Telangana Urdu Daily Publishes Blank Editorial in Protest Against Congress Govt’s Actions

In a bold move against alleged government suppression, The Munsif Daily, a prominent Urdu newspaper in Telangana, has published a blank editorial. The protest comes after the Congress-led government, under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, reportedly froze government advertisements to the publication.

This action has drawn comparisons to the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in the 1970s, during which press freedom was severely curtailed. The newspaper claims it is being penalized for exposing the government’s failures.

Government’s Stance on Advertisement Cuts

A Congress spokesperson clarified that the government has reduced overall spending on newspaper advertisements and reserves the right to decide where to allocate funds.

Critical Reports on Government Failures

According to Munsif Daily, its coverage has highlighted various governance issues, including:

• Communal unrest incidents since the Congress assumed power
• Police inefficiencies and the administration’s inaction
• Demolition of an abandoned mosque in Chilkur
• Changes to minority schoolgirls’ uniforms, including the removal of the dupatta
• Failure to protect Waqf properties
• Delayed salaries of imams and muezzins
• Non-payment of stipends for divorced women
• Lack of Muslim representation in the Telangana Cabinet

The editorial accused the government of expecting the media to portray Telangana as thriving under Congress rule, while in reality, issues like land degradation, rising poverty, and crimes against women persist.

Targeting Rahul Gandhi’s Statement on Press Freedom

The daily also referenced Rahul Gandhi’s 2023 statement in Washington, where he said, “Freedom of the press is under threat in India, and the world can see it. A free press is vital to a functioning democracy, and everyone should be prepared to accept criticism.”

The Munsif Daily pointed out that while most Urdu newspapers across India have criticized the Modi government, none have faced advertisement cuts at the central level. In contrast, it claims the Telangana government has retaliated against its critical reporting.

Defending Press Freedom

The editorial concluded with a powerful statement: “In 1975, Indira Gandhi attempted to silence the press and failed. Today, her party repeats history. But let it be known: The pen remains mightier than the sword. Journalism in India will not be silenced.”

This move by Munsif Daily has sparked debates on press freedom and government control over media funding, drawing national attention to the issue.