PM Cartoon row: Madras High Court directs Centre to restore blocked website of Tamil Magazine

Chennai: The Madras High Court has directed the Union Government to restore the website of popular Tamil magazine ‘Ananda Vikatan’, which was blocked following publication of a controversial cartoon on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent US visit.

While directing the I and B Ministry to restore the blocked website, the Court also ordered that the magazine should temporarily remove/delete the cartoon, which had triggered strong objections from the BJP for depicting and belittling Mr Modi in a demeaning manner.

According to reports received here on Friday morning, the Magazine's website has been restored following the court order and the controversial cartoon was removed.

The Magazine, which has a legacy of over early a century, had published a satirical cartoon depicting Mr Modi, shackled in chains, with US President Donald Trump during his recent US visit.

Passing interim orders on a petition filed by the Ananda Vikatan group of publications, challenging the Centre's February 25 order blocking the website and seeking a direction of the Union I&B Ministry to restore public access to the website, Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy directed the government to lift the ban on the magazine portal www.vikatan.com, and asked the website to temporarily take down the cover page with the cartoon.

The Judge held that public access to the entire website need not be blocked until the court decided whether the publication of the cartoon fell within the ambit of freedom of expression or whether it affected friendly relations with foreign nations.

He made it clear that the Ministry, without waiting for a court order, should restore the website once the magazine removed the controversial cartoon.

It may be recalled that the website of Vikatan was blocked following publication of an alleged offensive cartoon on Mr Modi.

The blocking of the website triggered strong condemnation of leaders of various political parties, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin, who termed it as an affront on the freedom of the press and shows the fascist nature of the BJP.

The website of the Magazine of Vikatan Group, with a more than century-old legacy, was blocked on February 15 night following a complaint filed by the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP demanding action against it for publishing an offensive cartoon against Mr Modi on its cover.

The complaint was filed by TN BJP Legal Cell State Vice-President G S Mani to the Union Home Ministry, the CBI Director General and the Joint Director, NIA Director General, the Tamil Nadu Home Secretary and the Greater Chennai City Commissioner of Police.

Taking strong objections, BJP State President K Annamalai also dashed off complaints to the Press Council of India Chairman and Union Information and Broadcasting Minister L Murugan demanding action ‘as soon as possible’.

The blocking of the website 'reportedly by the Centre' drew strong condemnation from leaders of various political parties in the State, including the allies of the ruling DMK, and the nascent TVK of actor Vijay.

Leading the State Mr Stalin, in his condemnation post on X, said it was yet another example of the fascistic nature of the BJP. and demanded that it should be restored immediately.

Blocking the media for expressing opinions was not good for democracy, he said.

"I express my regret that the website of @vikatan, which has been operating in journalism for a century, has been disabled", he said.

"Blocking the media for expressing opinions is not good for democracy! This is an example of the fascist nature of the BJP", Mr Stalin observed.

"I request immediate permission to grant access to the blocked website", he added.

Strong condemning it, Kollywood icon and TVK Founder Vijay the alleged blocking of the Vikatan website, one of Tamil Nadu’s most popular magazine, was an attempt to scuttle the freedom of press and expression.

Stressing the importance of the crucial role being played by Press in a democracy, Vijay said “The fourth pillar of democracy--the freedom of the press--should be safeguarded at all costs.

"If there are allegations regarding the content published by the Magazine, the right way is to seek recourse through the judiciary, not by taking draconian steps to stifle the freedom of expression.

In the criminal complaint, Mani demanded registration of FIR, investigation and necessary legal and criminal action against Junior Vikatan Tamil magazine for publishing a malicious and defamatory news item with the cartoon photographs lowering the character and reputation of the Prime Minister with US President Donald Trump in the larger public view.

He alleged that it was published with criminal and anti-national interest to tarnish the image and reputation of the Prime Minister in front of entire Tamil community.

Mr Mani said though the Freedom of speech and expression was a fundamental right that allows every citizen including the press and media to express their views and opinions which includes the right to speak, write ad use other forms of expressions.

But that right could not be misused or abused in tarnishing or damaging the reputation of any citizen, he contended.

The cartoon on the cover dated February 10, depicts Mr Modi, sitting with US President Donald Trump, with his hands and legs chained, drawing strong objections from the BJP leaders.

Mr Mani had enclosed copies of the cartoons and also the Indo-US Joint Statement issued by Mr Modi and Mr Trump during his US visit two days back.

After the Vikatan group started receiving complaints from readers that its website was not accessible, in a post on ‘X’, it had said “the government has not informed us about the blocking of our website. We will continue to function upholding freedom of expression as we have been for over a century."

"If the Union Government had blocked our website because of this cartoon in question, we would challenge it legally”, the Group had said.