On May 9, The Wire, a leading independent news portal, reported that its website has been blocked by multiple Indian Internet Service Providers (ISPs). The blocking, carried out under orders from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the IT Act, 2000, comes at a time of heightened national tension during Operation Sindoor and the India–Pakistan conflict.
The Wire condemned the move, calling it “a clear violation of the Constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press.” The publication has pledged to challenge the censorship through legal channels and reaffirmed its commitment to “truthful, fair, and rational” journalism. “We will not be deterred,” the statement emphasized, describing the action as arbitrary and unjustified.
This development follows closely on the heels of X (formerly Twitter) confirming that the Indian government had directed the platform to restrict access to over 8,000 accounts, including those of several independent media outlets such as Maktoob Media, The Kashmiriyat, and Free Press Kashmir. These restrictions are being framed as national security measures amid growing hostilities.
The News Minute, meanwhile, continues to provide comprehensive coverage of Operation Sindoor and its fallout, including government actions affecting media freedom. It has urged readers to follow updates through its WhatsApp Channel to stay informed.
The blocking of independent news outlets has sparked concern among press freedom advocates, with critics warning that such censorship during a national crisis undermines democratic values and restricts citizens’ access to critical information.
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