Deviating from its earlier stance of not directly accusing Indian Govt. of any wrong-doing, the Donald Trump-led U.S. administration has now accused the ruling BJP at the Centre of threatening anti-establishment print and television media.

Charges against the BJP-led Centre have been made in a probe report on human rights violations tabled by the State Department in U.S. Parliament last week.  It has stated that after the 21-month long ‘emergency’ imposed by the Congress in India in the late seventies, the print and television media is facing huge threats only recently from the right-wing rulers (read: the BJP).

The report says that 56 journalists had been attacked and cases of treason had been filed against 45 journalists during the period from 2014 (when the BJP ascended power at the Centre) till April last year.  Moreover, 3 private news television operators and 45 websites have been made ‘defunct’ for criticizing the rulers of the day, it adds.

Charges of treason are framed against those who are highly critical of the Govt.’s policy on various issues, the report further states.  It also refers to the CBI raid at NDTV office and the arrest of cartoonist Bala as examples in this regard.

The BJP hasn’t yet responded to the above criticism.