On 3 May 2025, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin took to his X handle to decry India’s ‘fall to 151st place’ in the Global Press Freedom Index. He blamed the BJP-led central government for stifling journalism, stating, “India has plunged to 151 in the Global Press Freedom Index. Why? Because the BJP regime fears questions. It raids newsrooms, jails reporters, and silences those who expose corruption, rights violations, and its majoritarian agenda. On this #WorldPressFreedomDay, let us remind ourselves: without fearless journalism, democracy dies in darkness. That is why we must safeguard press freedom—not just for the media, but for every citizen’s right to know, question, and speak truth to power.”
India has plunged to 151 in the Global Press Freedom Index. Why?
Because the BJP regime fears questions. It raids newsrooms, jails reporters, and silences those who expose corruption, rights violations, and its majoritarian agenda.
On this #WorldPressFreedomDay, let us remind…
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) May 3, 2025
While the statement earned applause from some quarters, it rang hollow to many familiar with Stalin’s own record over the past three years. A closer look at his government’s treatment of dissent reveals a disturbing pattern of intolerance toward critics and independent voices, ironically mirroring the very authoritarianism he accuses others of.
Arrests Under MK Stalin’s Watch: A Pattern Of Silencing Critics
Since assuming office in May 2021, Stalin has repeatedly used the state machinery to target YouTubers, opposition figures, social media activists, and even farmers – basically anyone. Below is a timeline of key incidents that paint a starkly different picture of the so-called “freedom fighter” for free speech:
- In June 2021, YouTuber Kishore Swamy was arrested under the draconian Goondas Act for allegedly defaming Stalin.
- In October 2021, a YouTuber, Duraimurugan, was arrested on similar charges as above.
- In January 2022, Duraimurugan was again arrested, this time also under the Goondas Act.
- In August 2022, stunt master Kanal Kannan was arrested for speaking against EVR.
- In November 2022, Kishore K Swamy was detained again for posts critical of MK Stalin related to monsoon preparations.
- In December 2022, the DMK government arrested an AMMK cadre for a meme targetting Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Sports Ministry.
- In July 2023, The Commune and its directors faced legal action for reporting on the confrontation between Podu Deekshitars of the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple and HR&CE officials.
- TN BJP Functionary Pravin Raj was arrested in the wee hours of 1 October 2023 for his posts targeting the ruling party and the Congress.
- In September 2023, the Tamil Nadu police even went up to Noida to try to arrest journalist Abhijit Majumder for his article on Udhayanidhi Stalin’s ‘eradicate Sanathana Dharma’ remarks.
- In September 2023, Arani Mahesh was jailed for allegedly defaming Udhayanidhi Stalin.
- In July 2023, a critic of the DMK, Badri Seshadri, was arrested for his comments in an interview on a YouTube channel regarding the Manipur issue, during which he made remarks about the Chief Justice of India.
- In June 2023, Tamil Nadu BJP State Secretary SG Suryah was taken into custody under non-bailable sections for his comments regarding Madurai CPI-M MP Su Venkatesan concerning a sanitation worker’s tragic death during drain cleaning in Pennadam town, Cuddalore district.
- In June 2023, an AIADMK IT wing member was apprehended under non-bailable sections for sharing a video meme that humorously referenced MK Stalin’s video statement on Senthilbalaji’s arrest. The meme did not contain derogatory content.
- In June 2023, a pro-BJP Twitter user was arrested for sharing an old article and allegedly misattributing DMK to an illegal liquor-producing gang in Tiruppur, following the recent hooch tragedy in Marakkanam.
- In April 2023. Vice President of Tamil Nadu BJP’s Industrial Cell, Selva Kumar, was arrested for criticizing DMK Minister Senthilbalaji.
- In March 2023, the admin of Voice of Savukku Shankar X handle was arrested for a video meme targeting CM MK Stalin and DMK Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan regarding the “eligible household” clause in the monthly assistance scheme for women.
- In February 2023, the DMK government traveled to Gujarat to arrest BJP cadre John Ravi, who had made satirical social media posts about CM MK Stalin and his late father, Karunanidhi.
- In June 2023, Uma Garghi, a BJP supporter was arrested twice on allegations of sharing defamatory posts targeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, former CM M Karunanidhi, and Dravidian movement leader EV Ramasamy.
- In September 2023, former VHP leader RBVS Manian, an octagenarian, was arrested for derogatory remarks on BR Ambedkar.
- In October 2023, N Muthuramalingam, the State Propaganda Secretary of South India Forward Bloc, was arrested for expressing his views on Facebook regarding the release of terrorists convicted in the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts case. Muthuramalingam had criticized Dravidian parties for considering the release of 36 prisoners, including those convicted for life in the Coimbatore terror attack, leading to his arrest.
- In October 2023, an NTK cadre was arrested by TN police for a social media post on Karunanidhi.
- In October 2023, TN police arrested BJP member Amar Prasad Reddy for allegedly attacking and damaging a JCB machine brought to remove the party’s flagpole outside state president K. Annamalai’s Chennai residence.
- In October 2023, a BJP cadre was hounded by TN Police for inadvertently sharing a fake news card – his passport was impounded, he lost his job, and he was jailed too.
- In October 2023, a Hindu Munnani member was arrested for allegedly making ‘defamatory remarks’ against DMK MP A Raja.
- In November 2023, six farmers protesting land acquisition were jailed under the Goondas Act.
- In January 2024, BJP IT Wing and Social Media State Secretary Trichy Pugal Machendran was arrested for an alleged provocative Facebook post celebrating the death of the terrorist Palani Baba on his death anniversary. The post referred to Palani Baba as a “poisonous influence.”
- In March 2024, Minjur Saleem, a pro-BJP activist found himself detained and later arrested for his dissenting views regarding the DMK Party’s governance, which he expressed on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
- In March 2024, TN Police went all the way to Bihar to arrest an online troll for posting a meme on DMK Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.
- In May 2024, TN police arrested YouTuber Savukku Shankar for his ‘obscene’ comment about women police officers in a recent interview.
- In May 2024, TN police arrested YouTuber Felix Gerald for allegedly ‘instigating’ Savukku Shankar to make defamatory remarks against police.
- In July 2024, DMK government arrested NTK propaganda secretary Sattai Duraimurugan for an alleged defamatory song about Karunanidhi.
- In August 2024, Savukku Shankar was again detained under Goondas Act for allegedly possessing ganja. Seven cases were filed against him.
- In October 2024, film director Mohan G Kshatriyan was arrested without following due procedure for a comment he made in an interview.
- In November 2024, BJP supporter Johny Raja was arrested in Chennai by Vellore police following social media posts allegedly targeting the ruling DMK party.
- In November 2024, TN police went all the way to Hyderabad to arrest actress Kasthuri Shankar for her remarks on Telugu community, despite having apologised for the same.
- In November 2024, IMK chief Arjun Sampath’s son Omkar Balaji was arrested for remarks against Dravidianist journo ‘Nakkheeran’ Gopal, he was released later.
- In December 2024, TN Police arrested a youth for posting a video of an elderly woman throwing slippers and dirt at MK Stalin’s poster. Additionally, a complaint was filed against the old lady by a DMK MLA.
- In December 2024, temple activist Rangarajan Narasimhan was arrested by Chennai cyber crime police for allegedly “defaming” Udhayanidhi Stalin.
- In January 2025, a Dindigul BJP leader who exposed the illegal sale of liquor in broad daylight was arrested by TN police.
- In February 2025, a BJP TN functionary Kannan was arrested for his remarks against Chief Minister Stalin at the budget explanation meeting.
- In March 2025, an activist and ex-BJP worker who exposed the poor quality of newly built toilets at Tiruchendur Temple complex was arrested by TN Police at 4 AM that day.
- In March 2025, a Hindu Munnani leader was arrested for posting on social media alleging demolition of a temple.
- In March 2025, TN BJP leader SG Suryah was arrested for a 3-language policy signature campaign in Chennai, he was released later.
- In March 2025, YouTuber Savukku Shankar house was attacked – thugs dressed as sanitary workers ransacked his home, terrorized his mother, and smeared filth across the rooms and dining table, allegedly because he exposed TN Congress chief Selvaperunthagai’s hygiene workers vehicle purchase scam.
A Democracy Of Convenience?
Out of those arrested, at least six individuals were booked explicitly for allegedly defaming Stalin or his son and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin. Others were silenced for expressing dissenting views—be it on caste issues, women’s rights, religious practices, or land policies.
When juxtaposed with Stalin’s soaring rhetoric about “fearless journalism” and “democracy dying in darkness,” this track record suggests not a defender of free speech, but a leader who suppresses it when it becomes inconvenient.
If Stalin truly believes that democracy depends on fearless journalism, why does his government repeatedly jail dissenters, slap critics with Goondas Act charges, and stifle independent voices?
World Press Freedom Day should not be reduced to hashtags and hollow statements. It is a moment to reflect on whether those in power practice what they preach. For all his condemnation of the BJP’s media crackdowns, Stalin’s own house appears far from clean.
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