Parties in Jammu and Kashmir have condemned the police action against Muhammad Zubair, journalist and co-founder of the fact checking site Alt News, and demanded his release.
“Speaking truth is being criminalised by the present BJP regime. It started with Kashmir after 2019 when journalists were booked and arrested under the UAPA and Public Safety Act (PSA). The same is being applied outside Jammu and Kashmir. Now, Zubair has been arrested for reporting facts. These are black days of Indian democracy,” Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said.
She said Mr. Zubair’s arrest had come at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was attending the G-7 meeting and signed a joint document to protect freedom of expression. “My worry is that India’s situation might get worse than China’s. Remember India is considered the largest democracy of the world. However, its foundations, secularism and democracy are being violated,” Ms. Mufti said, demanding the release of Mr. Zubair.
