Passport Denial for Journalist R Rajagopal Sparks Controversy
A controversy has erupted after senior advisor to the Government of India, Kanchan Gupta, openly stated that the passport renewal of journalist R Rajagopal has been denied due to his journalism critical of the Modi government. Gupta's comments, made on social media, have drawn sharp reactions from opposition leaders and activists, who see it as a direct attack on press freedom.
Gupta's Justification
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kanchan Gupta questioned the ethics of the Editors Guild of India, accusing Rajagopal of running a "toxic campaign" against the Modi government, indulging in "ad hominem vitriolic abuse." He specifically cited a front-page banner headline that labeled Union Minister Smriti Irani as 'Aunty National'. Gupta's post read: "Where was @IndEditorsGuild’s ethics when day after day R Rajagopal ran a toxic campaign against Modi Govt, not to critique it but indulge in ad hominem vitriolic abuse? Remember how @smritiirani was labelled ‘Aunty National’ in a front page banner headline? Roll your outrage and…"
Opposition's Response
Opposition leaders have condemned the remarks. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera questioned whether the government is introducing new citizenship rules, stating: "And therefore his right to vote and passport will be suspended? Kanchan Ji is introducing new citizenship rules in Modi’s New India!!" Dr. Shama Mohamed, also from the Congress, accused Gupta of writing a new rule for citizenship, saying: "A so-called Senior Advisor in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, @KanchanGupta, is writing a new rule for citizenship under the @narendramodi government. He is clearly saying that journalist R. Rajagopal’s passport is not being renewed just because he criticised the…"
Allegations of Media Control
Journalist and activist Saket Gokhale highlighted the gravity of the situation, tweeting: "An official & an advisor to the Govt of India openly states that Telegraph editor R Rajagopal is being denied a passport renewal because of his journalism that was critical of the Modi Govt. This is a stunning official admission of how Modi-Shah control the media & set the…" The incident has reignited debates about media independence in India, with critics arguing that the government is using administrative tools to suppress dissent.
Impact on Press Freedom
The denial of a passport renewal to a journalist for their reporting is unprecedented and raises serious concerns about the state of press freedom in India. According to the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, India ranks 161 out of 180 countries in 2025, reflecting ongoing challenges. The Editors Guild of India has yet to issue an official statement, but the incident has already sparked widespread condemnation on social media. As of now, R Rajagopal has not commented on the matter. The controversy underscores the tensions between the government and the media, with implications for democratic discourse in the country.
