Abhisar Sharma is a senior journalist and a Youtuber who runs a channel called ‘NewsClick‘. He is known for his critical views on the Modi government and its policies. He has also been vocal about issues such as farmers’ protests, human rights violations, communal violence and media freedom in India.
Recently, he was detained by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell for questioning in connection with the investigation into the alleged foreign funding of NewsClick. He was released after a few hours and claimed that he had nothing to fear or hide. He also accused the government of trying to intimidate and silence independent journalists.
Table of Contents
What is NewsClick and what is the controversy around it?
NewsClick is an independent media organisation that claims to provide “alternative perspectives on political, economic, social and cultural issues”. It covers topics such as labour rights, environment, education, health, culture and sports. It also features interviews with activists, academics, artists and experts on various issues.
The controversy around NewsClick started when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a probe into its finances and alleged that it had received dubious funds from abroad to spread Chinese propaganda in India. The ED claimed that NewsClick had received over ₹ 86 crore from foreign entities between 2018 and 2021, out of which ₹ 9.59 crore came from a company linked to a Chinese Communist Party supporter.
The ED also alleged that NewsClick had transferred money to various individuals and organisations that were involved in anti-CAA protests, Delhi riots and farmers’ agitation. The ED raided the premises of NewsClick’s editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha, its director Pranjal Pandey and several other journalists associated with it.
NewsClick has denied any wrongdoing and said that it has complied with all the laws and regulations regarding foreign funding. It has also accused the ED of conducting a “witch-hunt” against independent media and trying to muzzle dissenting voices.
How has the media fraternity and civil society reacted to the raids?
The raids on NewsClick and its journalists have been widely condemned by the media fraternity and civil society groups as an attack on press freedom and democracy in India. Several journalists’ associations, such as the Press Club of India, the Indian Women’s Press Corps, the Editors Guild of India and the Delhi Union of Journalists have issued statements expressing solidarity with NewsClick and demanding an end to the harassment of journalists.
Several prominent journalists, such as Ravish Kumar, Rajdeep Sardesai, Barkha Dutt, Karan Thapar and Sagarika Ghose have also spoken out in support of NewsClick and Abhisar Sharma. They have criticised the government for using agencies like the ED and the police to target critical media outlets and suppress dissent.
Several civil society groups, such as Amnesty International India, People’s Union for Civil Liberties, Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms and Citizens for Justice and Peace have also condemned the raids and called them a violation of human rights and constitutional values. They have demanded that the government respect the freedom of expression and stop intimidating journalists.
Conclusion
The raids on NewsClick and its journalists are a clear example of how the government is trying to stifle independent media and dissenting voices in India. The allegations of foreign funding and Chinese propaganda are baseless and aimed at discrediting NewsClick’s work. The ED and the police are acting as tools of political vendetta and harassment. The media fraternity and civil society must stand united against this assault on democracy and press freedom. NewsClick and Abhisar Sharma deserve our support and solidarity.
Famous reporter and their affiliation with News
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Abhisar Sharma | NewsClick | Senior journalist |
| Prabir Purkayastha | NewsClick | Editor-in-chief |
| Pranjal Pandey | NewsClick | Director |
| Ravish Kumar | NDTV | Journalist |
| Rajdeep Sardesai | India Today | Journalist |
| Barkha Dutt | Mojo Story | Journalist |
| Karan Thapar | The Wire | Journalist |
| Sagarika Ghose | Times of India | Journalist |
| Amnesty International India | Civil society group | Human rights organisation |
| People’s Union for Civil Liberties | Civil society group | Human rights organisation |
| Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms | Civil society group | Judicial reform organisation |
| Citizens for Justice and Peace | Civil society group | Human rights organisation |
FAQ
Q: Who is Abhisar Sharma?
A: Abhisar Sharma is a senior journalist and a Youtuber who runs a channel called ‘NewsClick’.
Q: Why is he in the news?
A: He is in the news because he was detained by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell for questioning in connection with the investigation into the alleged foreign funding of NewsClick.
Q: What is NewsClick?
A: NewsClick is an independent media organisation that claims to provide “alternative perspectives on political, economic, social and cultural issues”.
Q: What is the controversy around NewsClick?
A: The controversy around NewsClick started when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a probe into its finances and alleged that it had received dubious funds from abroad to spread Chinese propaganda in India.
Q: How has the media fraternity and civil society reacted to the raids?
A: The raids on NewsClick and its journalists have been widely condemned by the media fraternity and civil society groups as an attack on press freedom and democracy in India.