Independent media outlets and online critics: Far from a safe harbour
Six months after the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Sanjay Sharma, editor of a Lucknow-based evening newspaper, was summoned by a senior official over perceived political bias. The official conveyed that the Chief Minister was upset, accusing Sharma of being aligned with opposition leader Akhilesh Yadav. The incident highlights concerns about press freedom and political pressure on independent media in India.
- ▪Sanjay Sharma, editor of a Lucknow newspaper, was summoned by a senior official close to the Chief Minister’s Office in 2017.
- ▪The official stated that the Chief Minister was upset with Sharma and believed he supported Akhilesh Yadav, leader of the Samajwadi Party.
- ▪Sharma recounted this incident during a public policy event in April 2026 via Zoom.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Six months after the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, in which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved a landslide victory, Sanjay Sharma, the editor of an evening newspaper in Lucknow, was summoned by a senior official close to the Chief Minister’s Office.“The officer told me, ‘The Chief Minister is very upset with you; he thinks you are Akhilesh’s man,’” said Sharma, referring to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who was Chief Minister of the State from 2012 to 2017. He was recounting the episode over Zoom at a public policy event in April 2026.
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Hindu — Top.
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