Dear Friends, 

Indians will vote on 19 April in a closely monitored election, in which Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term as prime minister. Since Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took power in 2014, India has been in free fall in the world press freedom index that Reporters Without Borders (RSF) compiles. In 2023, it reached its lowest ever ranking –161st – down from 133rd in 2016.

Modi’s government is deploying a major oppressive arsenal against critical media outlets. Press freedom is in danger in this country, which has 18% of the world’s population.

RSF’s teams are responding to the situation. Together with Guernica 37 Chambers, a collective of lawyers specialising in international criminal law and human rights, RSF is asking the European Union to impose sanctions on the Delhi police officers involved in an unprecedented crackdown on journalists. We have also denounced the detention of Kashmiri journalists who have been charged under terrorism laws and have published our recommendations for the election’s candidates.

In a country portrayed as the world’s biggest democracy, press freedom is threatened. This is why it is essential that we continue our fight for a free press and the right to information throughout the world. It is with your help that we are able to wage this fight. Thank you for your support.