KalimNews, New Delhi, May 2, 2025: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) has expressed grave concern over the Indian government’s recent action to block the popular YouTube channel 4PM News, which has over 7.3 million subscribers. The government cited “national security or public order” as the reason for the shutdown, a move that has sparked widespread criticism from media organizations and political figures alike.
The YouTube channel was taken down on April 29, 2025, following an order from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Sanjay Sharma, the Editor-in-Chief of 4PM News, voiced his outrage over the incident, accusing the government of attempting to suppress critical voices under the guise of national security concerns. In a statement, Sharma said, “Our national channel 4PM News has been shut down by the government. An attempt has been made to silence a strong voice of democracy using national security as an excuse.”
Sharma, who has been vocal in his criticisms of the government, added that he was not given the opportunity to address any concerns before the channel was blocked. “If the government had an issue with any video, they could have sent an email to inform us. I would have investigated it myself, and if there was a mistake, I would have removed it,” he said, further asserting that he would continue his efforts to hold the government accountable through other platforms.
The government’s move to block the channel comes amid growing tensions over its critical coverage, particularly a video questioning possible security lapses that led to the deaths of 26 tourists in Pahalgam. Other content, including a video titled “Amit Shah walked down a red carpet in the Valley—Was he there to offer condolences or put on a show?” has also drawn the ire of government officials.
The IJU has strongly condemned the government’s actions, with its President and former Member of the Press Council of India, Geetartha Pathak, and Secretary-General, Sabina Inderjit, issuing a joint statement. “This is an attack on freedom of speech, which is vital to any democracy,” they said. “The government should have been transparent in its order and clarified the specific threats to national security or public disorder, rather than issuing a blanket ban. The action reeks of censorship, and we demand that the ban be immediately lifted.”
The 4PM News channel, which has consistently challenged government policies and actions, is no stranger to controversy. Prior to this latest incident, there had been prior attempts to have the channel removed from YouTube. In 2020, when Anurag Thakur was the Information and Broadcasting Minister, the government had urged YouTube to take down videos on China and the Ladakh region. However, those videos were ultimately deemed credible and remained accessible.
In response to the latest shutdown, Sanjay Sharma made it clear that the government’s efforts to silence 4PM News would not succeed. “PM Modi is not India,” Sharma said. “Asking questions of the government is not a crime. We will continue to raise our voice in a democracy. The channel may be shut down, but our voice cannot be silenced.”
Sharma also emphasized that the fight for free speech would continue. “We will keep the torch of democracy burning—whether on YouTube or any other platform. Voices cannot be silenced,” he declared.
The closure of 4PM News has drawn support from political leaders, including Yashwant Sinha, former Minister of Finance and External Affairs, who called the government’s action “draconian and dictatorial.” Sinha urged the government to revoke the order, stating, “The government should withdraw this order immediately.”
The ban on 4PM News raises serious questions about press freedom and government overreach, with many fearing that this could set a dangerous precedent for future media censorship in India.
As of now, the YouTube channel displays the message: “This content is currently unavailable in this country because of an order from the government related to national security or public order.”
The controversy surrounding the closure of 4PM News continues to unfold, with journalists, activists, and political figures all watching closely as the battle over free speech and media freedom intensifies.
