States » EastPosted at: Oct 5 2026 5:11PM


APC, APUWJ raise alarm over reported blocking of SUMP news reports

Itanagar, Oct 5 (UNI) The Arunachal Press Club (APC) and Arunachal Pradesh union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) have raised concerns over the news reports and videos related to the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) have been restricted or made inaccessible on social media platforms in India and demanded transparency and immediate restoration of legitimate journalistic content.
In a joint statement, the two apex journalist bodies said several journalists in Arunachal Pradesh have reported that videos and other journalistic content concerning SUMP had either become inaccessible in India or that access to their accounts or content had been restricted.
In some cases, users attempting to access such material were reportedly informed that the content had been temporarily restricted pursuant to legal requirements under India’s Information Technology rules.
The APC and APUWJ said the reported restrictions were a matter of serious concern, particularly as SUMP was an issue of significant public importance involving development, environment, displacement, indigenous rights, national interest and the future of communities along the Siang River.
They said that at a time when the project was witnessing intense public debate, protests and dialogue between the government and affected communities, restricting legitimate journalistic reports could deny citizens information necessary for informed public discourse.
“Journalism cannot be treated as an inconvenience merely because reports from the ground are uncomfortable, critical or contrary to an official narrative,” the organisations said.
The two bodies demanded that if any government authority or agency had sought the blocking or restriction of legitimate SUMP-related news reports, the legal basis, authority and specific grounds for such action should be disclosed.
They also sought clarification on whether any directions had been issued to social media platforms to restrict SUMP-related reports, videos, accounts or other journalistic content.
The APC and APUWJ said the press fraternity could not accept blanket, opaque or arbitrary restrictions on bonafide journalism, warning that any attempt to suppress factual ground reports, interviews, protests, public reactions or differing opinions on an issue of such magnitude could have a chilling effect on press freedom and undermine the public’s right to know.
The organisations reiterated that journalists covering SUMP were performing their professional duties.
“Reporting opposition is not opposing the government. Reporting a protest is not endorsing it. Carrying the government’s position does not make a journalist its spokesperson,” they said, adding that the duty of the press was to document all sides fairly and fearlessly.
The journalist bodies called upon the competent authorities to immediately restore legitimate journalistic content restricted solely in connection with SUMP reporting and provide a clear explanation for every restriction imposed on journalists or news organisations.
They also urged social media platforms to ensure that legitimate journalism was not indiscriminately affected by content-restriction mechanisms and that affected journalists were provided meaningful avenues for review and appeal.
The APC and APUWJ said they stood with journalists carrying out legitimate reporting on SUMP and other matters of public interest. They added that any attempt to intimidate journalists or silence legitimate reporting through unexplained digital restrictions would be challenged collectively through appropriate democratic and legal forums.
“A democracy is strengthened by more information, more scrutiny and more dialogue—not by making news disappear from people’s screens,” the organisations said.
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Tags: #APC# APUWJ raise alarm over reported blocking of SUMP news reports
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