TN’s Influential Media Group Vikatan Faces Website Blockage by I&B Ministry

One of the most influential media groups of Tamil Nadu, Vikatan, has announced that it is consulting legal experts as its website has been blocked since February 15. The media house earlier alleged that the website was blocked after it published a cartoon on its digital magazine, Vikatan Plus, that depicted Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his hands and legs changed sitting across US President Donald Trump. The cartoon was published on February 10 and triggered controversy with Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai and supporters of the party. Taking a dig at the media house, soon the website was blocked.

Free Speech

The cartoon was based on the deportation of several Indians from the US in handcuffs days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Donald Trump at the White House. According to the media group, on the night of 25th February, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a final order regarding the matter.

“The information and broadcasting ministry implemented this blockade without providing any formal notice to Vikatan,” says the media group in a statement released this week. Vimatan also said that a detailed enquiry in the matter happened on February 20, during which Vikas provided complete explanations defending the cartoon as an expression of free speech. But the website remains blocked from viewers.