New Delhi: In their recently released list of ‘Predators of Press Freedom’, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) listed 37 heads of state with the lowest press freedom under their jurisdiction, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi being listed as well.
RSF’s entry regarding Modi lists that his “close ties with billionaire businessmen who own vast media empires” has aided in spreading his nationalist-populist ideologies through continued coverage of his “extremely divisive and derogatory” speeches.
The right to inform and be informed is regarded as a basic human right, and RSF is the world’s largest non-profit organisation that works towards media freedom. In their 2021 World Press Freedom Index, India ranks at 142nd out of 180 countries.
Modi is listed in the ‘Predators of Press Freedom’ alongside Pakistan’s head of state Imran Khan, Myanmar’s military head Min Aung Hlaing, and North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. RSF lists them along with 33…