In the aftermath of India’s decisive four-day military retaliation against Pakistan, a section of Indian media has once again betrayed national interest. Outlets like The Hindu and The Wire reportedly published narratives eerily sympathetic to Islamabad, raising the question: how long will the Indian state tolerate this fifth column masquerading as journalism?
The government of Narendra Modi has been rightly assertive in confronting enemies beyond the border. But the threat within—an ecosystem of ideologically driven, foreign-funded media—continues to enjoy impunity. It is time to revoke the licenses of these rogue media houses that regularly amplify Pakistan’s propaganda, undermine Indian security forces, and manipulate facts to suit foreign interests.
Take The Hindu. Once hailed as a balanced, scholarly newspaper, it has become a shadow of its former self. Since the days of N. Ram, the publication has steadily leaned towards Beijing’s interests. Ram, a known sympathizer of the Chinese Communist Party, was part of the editorial leadership that infamously defended China after the 2017 Doklam standoff and even justified Beijing’s aggression during the 2020 Galwan clashes. Under his watch—and later, the Kasturi family’s—The Hindu began sanitizing Chinese positions, even as Indian soldiers stood guard in the snow-bound Himalayas.
Worse, it unabashedly published full-page advertisements for the Chinese Communist regime—a disgraceful act that violates the basic ethics of journalism. That a so-called Indian national daily would sell space to an expansionist, hostile state is not only shameful but indefensible.
Then there’s The Wire, founded by Siddharth Varadarajan—an American citizen who held editorial positions at The Hindu before falling out with the establishment. His publication emerged as a haven for anti-establishment journalists and activists, often pushing narratives that are indistinguishable from Pakistani media on Kashmir, terrorism, or communal incidents. Varadarajan has faced several FIRs for spreading fake news, from misrepresenting the death of a Tablighi Jamaat member during COVID-19 lockdowns to falsely attributing quotes to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Yet, The Wire continues to operate with foreign donations and unregulated digital funding.
These are not isolated actors. Barkha Dutt, once hailed as a war correspondent, today plays the role of a grievance peddler for fringe separatist voices. Rajdeep Sardesai, caught spreading misinformation during the 2021 Republic Day riots, was suspended briefly but faced no lasting consequences. Prannoy Roy’s NDTV—now under new ownership—has long been accused of editorial bias against nationalist causes, and both Roy and his wife have faced multiple CBI cases over financial irregularities. Still, they are given prime-time legitimacy.
More sinister is the pattern of foreign funding. Organizations linked to George Soros, a billionaire with open hostility towards Modi’s government, have channelled grants to Indian digital media entities. The Open Society Foundations, for instance, has openly declared its intent to “strengthen democratic institutions” in India—code for funding anti-Modi platforms that question every democratic decision from Article 370 abrogation to CAA. In 2023, the Indian government rightly stepped-up scrutiny on these funds, but why stop at FCRA violations? Why not criminally investigate the intent behind this sustained information war?
Even among politicians, the rot runs deep. Mani Shankar Aiyar, a Congress stalwart and former diplomat, infamously pleaded on Pakistani TV for regime change in India. In 2017, he attended a dinner meeting with Pakistani officials, reportedly to discuss Indian domestic politics. What followed was a disgraceful remark calling Modi a “neech aadmi”—an insult that backfired but exposed the Congress’s dangerous flirtation with India’s enemies.
Freedom of the press does not mean freedom to sabotage the nation. When journalists become lobbyists for foreign powers, they cease to be journalists. They become agents—willing or unwitting—in a hybrid war against the Indian state.
The Modi government has rightly cracked down on NGOs violating FCRA norms, banned Islamist organizations like PFI, and neutralized cross-border terror threats. But media cartels that spread anti-national narratives remain largely untouched. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting must act now. Revoke licenses. Freeze foreign funding. Investigate editorial-level collusion with foreign agents.
Let us be clear: this is not censorship. This is national security. And national security cannot be held hostage to a press that sells its soul to Pakistan, China, or Soros.
Enough leniency. It’s time to act.
