Arunachal Press Groups Fight Digital Censorship of Siang Dam Project

Itanagar: Arunachal journalists are fighting back. The Arunachal Press Club and the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists issued a sharp condemnation today. They demand the immediate restoration of news content regarding the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project. Several reporters reported their videos and social media accounts restricted over the last few days.

Users trying to access this content see warnings claiming the material is temporarily blocked under India's Information Technology rules. The project triggers fierce debate over displacement, environment, and indigenous rights. By blocking these reports, authorities are cutting off the public from vital information.

The press bodies want answers. They demand that government agencies disclose the specific legal basis for these digital blocks. The joint statement declared: "The press fraternity cannot accept blanket, opaque or arbitrary restrictions on legitimate journalism."

Suppressing ground reports and interviews creates a dangerous chilling effect. The groups maintain that documenting protests is a core journalistic duty, not an act of political defiance. They pledged to fight these intimidation tactics through every available legal channel. Officials must now explain these opaque actions and stop interfering with public discourse.