Date: 23rd March
Error 404, Freedom of Speech Not Found? When The Government Blocked Peek TV’s Ground Report
The Fact: This week, multiple X accounts of political commentators, parody handles, and journalists in India were suspended following ‘government orders’. A message on all these accounts says “Accounts withheld in India in response to a legal demand.” Several posts on Instagram and X that included commentary, ground reports, and satire were also taken down
The Context: These accounts and content pieces have been taken down under Section 69A of the IT Act, which allows the government to block online content. However, as per the landmark Shreya Singhal v. Union of India ruling, the Supreme Court had made it clear that such orders must provide written reasons to ensure transparency. Despite this, many of these accounts were withheld with vague reasons like "fake propaganda." Even one of Peek TV's ground reports was taken down on similar claims.
The Peek Insight: As traditional media revels in misinformation, government PR, and divisive jingoism, many social media accounts have become a crucial space for dissent and alternate narratives. But if such legal orders will quietly erase dissenting voices without accountability, then it makes one wonder - is any medium in India truly free today?
War’s 5-Volt Jolt To Your Wallet: How the US-Iran Conflict Is Driving Up Monthly Expenses in India
The Fact: The ongoing US-Iran conflict is pushing up everyday costs in India on multiple fronts. Domestic LPG prices have risen by ₹60 and commercial cylinders by ₹115, with reports of black-market rates reaching ₹3,000–₹4,000. Airfares have also increased across popular airlines like IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa Air. Premium petrol prices are up by ₹2 per litre, while prices of industrial diesel have surged 25%. Not only this, the prices of basic essential items like edible oils have also gone up by ₹3–₹6 per litre in the last month.
The Context: These price hikes are linked to disruptions in global oil and gas supply caused by the US-Iran conflict, including attacks on key energy facilities and supply routes. India’s heavy dependence on imports for fuel and edible oils makes it particularly vulnerable. Adding to this pressure, the rupee has weakened to a record low of around 94 against the dollar, making imports more expensive and amplifying the impact of rising global prices.
The Peek Insight: This is the ‘domino effect’ of inflation - what starts as a geopolitical conflict abroad quickly hits fuel, then transport, and eventually, everyday essentials like food. With a weaker rupee and continued global uncertainty, these price pressures are unlikely to ease soon, and the real cost of living in India may continue to rise in the coming weeks.
When Protector Becomes the ‘Predator’: India’s Law Enforcement on Trial?
The Fact: A police constable, identified as Imran Khan from Aligarh's Qaursi, has been booked for allegedly demanding sexual favours from a 25-year-old rape survivor in ‘exchange’ for registering her complaint. The survivor had recorded phone calls in which Khan is allegedly asking her to "sleep with him” in a hotel.
The Context: The woman had reportedly approached the police to file a case of rape on the false promise of marriage. She had also filed a complaint through the police’s Jansunwai portal. However, instead of registering her complaint, Khan allegedly made this demand and continued to pressure her through calls and messages. According to reports, he even threatened to ‘put her in jail’ if she spoke the truth.
The Peek Insight: This case exposes a sinister irony in India's law and order. Those who are meant to deliver justice exploit the survivors when they are at their most vulnerable. It raises a critical question: how many such cases never come to light? For survivors, the fight is not just against their perpetrators but also against the very system meant to protect them.
PM Modi Is Now India’s Longest-Serving Government Head
The Fact: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become India’s longest-serving head of an elected government. PM Modi completed 8,931 days in office on Sunday, with his tenure as Gujarat CM and PM combined, surpassing the record of former CM of Sikkim, Pawan Kumar Chamling, who served for 8,930 days.
The Context: PM Modi's political journey began in 2001 as the CM of Gujarat, and he has been head of the government continuously since then. This was followed by his three consecutive terms as the Prime Minister from 2014 to the present day. This also makes PM Modi the second leader, after Jawaharlal Nehru, to win three consecutive Lok Sabha elections. Despite 14 years of incumbency and at 75 years of age, PM Modi remains one of the most formidable figures in Indian politics.
The Peek Insight: PM Modi's milestone reflects a shift in the Indian political system. The country has moved from an era of coalition instability to a sustained and centralised leadership. For supporters, this is a sign of stability; for critics, it is a centralisation of power that weakens the institutional checks and dissent, especially with controversies like "vote-chori" surrounding the NDA government.
Netanyahu Calls World Leaders To Join War, Defying Trump’s ‘Winding Down’ Appeal
The Fact: Speaking from Arad after recent Iranian missile strikes, Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of targeting civilian areas and religious sites. The strikes reportedly injured over 100 people and caused significant damage to residential zones. In a media interview, Netanyahu called on global leaders to join the US and Israel in this conflict against Iran.
The Context: The escalation follows Iran’s missile attacks on cities like Arad and Dimona, which Iran claims were aimed at strategic targets amid tensions over its nuclear facilities, including Natanz. Meanwhile, Israel alleges that civilian and religious sites, such as the Western Wall and Al-Aqsa Mosque, were also at risk, intensifying the geopolitical standoff. The statement interestingly comes in sharp contrast to Trump’s recent remark saying the US is considering ‘winding down’ the conflict.
The Peek Insight: Netanyahu’s call signals a potential shift from a regional conflict to a wider global confrontation. If more countries align with either side, the situation could escalate beyond, impacting not just geopolitics in West Asia but global markets, energy supply, and economic stability worldwide.
And finally,
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