Skip to main content

Ad

After ABP News, Modi govt. pressurised Cartoonist Satish Acharya, asked not make cartoons critical of Modi ji !


After ABP News, Mail Today pressurised by Modi govt. Cartoonist Satish Acharya asked not make cartoons critical of Modi ji.
Read What 
Cartoonist Satish Acharya Says 

DROP THE CARTOON AND CARRY A PHOTO!
That’s how my cartoon column with Mail Today ended yesterday. That’s how the editor looked at a cartoon and cartoonist’s opinion. That’s how the editor chose to shut a voice!
The cartoon he rejected was about how China is surrounding India by spreading influence in countries like Maldives and others. The editor said the cartoon is ‘Very defeatist and the China problem is being overplayed’
I thought it’s how a cartoonist looked at the growing influence of China around Indian interests.
So I said it’s debatable and cartoonist’s opinion should be valued.
And in response, he asked the news desk to drop the cartoon and carry a photo.
I have been battling to protect my freedom, to protect the sanctity of a cartoon column, for many days. May be for the editor it’s just three column space, but for a cartoonist it’s a whole world. A world where the cartoonist is free to express his opinion. A world to challenge his own creative boundaries. A world to voice protest, criticise, lament, cheer etc.
-First they rejected a cartoon showing cow saying ‘The editor is not too happy with the cartoon with cow’
-For a cartoon on lynching I received this message ‘There’s a bit of an issue. India Today Group has decided not to come out with any community based cartoons.’
-For one cartoon on Modi, they asked ‘if I can replace Modi’s character with any general BJP character’
-And then ‘ Editor is not comfortable with Muslim angle in the cartoon’
-And ‘editor didn’t like the demonetisation link with 100% electrification’
-And more of ‘this doesn’t make sense’, ‘this is unacceptable’ etc etc.
(And many of these rejected cartoons were used by other clients and some of them went viral, shared/retweeted by even many journalists)
It was very difficult to do a cartoon, as too many barriers were installed around me.
Out of desperation, I approached many senior journalist friends for feedback. They sympathised with me, some asked me to wait, some asked me to stay strong.
Giving up is easy in such situation as I’m a freelance cartoonist contributing to other clients too. I thought I need to fight for my right. I thought I need to do justice to the cartoon space that goes with my name.
But at the end, I was rudely reminded that, that space is owned by the editor, the paper.
And they could just drop my cartoon and carry a photo!
Of course, there’s a strange relief. Now there’s a thought that when I sit to draw a cartoon, I don’t have to worry about, what my editor thinks/says about the cow in the cartoon, lynching in the cartoon, Modi in the cartoon or a Muslim/Hindu guy in the cartoon!
But this humiliating experience is hurting.
As a cartoonist I expect my editor to respect my opinion and also trust the boundaries I have drawn for myself. Cartoonists are not bound to mimic editor’s voice. Cartoonists are supposed to and expected to express independent voice.
Of course, editor is within his right to differ with a cartoon and inform the cartoonist. But he should be open to discuss, without being dictatorial.
My cartoons used to appear in Op-ed page of Mail Today, where I thought some of the columnists enjoyed more freedom than my cartoons!
Luckily I have few other clients, where the editors respect my opinion and trust my cartoons, even when they don’t agree with me. Hope we will have more such large-hearted editors.
And I also have social media, where independent voice gets an audience.
Ironically, the personal website of BJP chief Amit Shah carries most of my cartoons featuring him, many of them are very critical of him!
As famously quoted, when they are asked to bend, they chose to crawl!

Comments

Support Us

Popular posts from this blog

JUST IN: Karoline Leavitt Cites Claudine Gay’s 'Stunning Confession' to Justify $2 Billion Federal Funding Freeze for Harvard

  Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr JUST IN: Karoline Leavitt Cites Claudine Gay’s 'Stunning Confession' to Justify $2 Billion Federal Funding Freeze for Harvard WASHINGTON, D.C. — April 16, 2025 White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Tuesday that the Trump administration is moving forward with a freeze on $2 billion in federal funds to Harvard University , citing widespread antisemitism on campus and a “stunning confession” from former Harvard President Claudine Gay. During the daily press briefing, Leavitt defended the decision and emphasized the administration's unwavering stance on protecting Jewish American students from illegal harassment and discrimination in violation of federal law. “The president’s position on this is grounded in common sense,” Leavitt said. “Jewish American students—or students of any faith—should not be illegally harassed and targeted on our nation’s college campuses.” Claudine Gay’s Testimony Fuels...

Margo Martin Age, Bio, Boyfriend, Husband, Marriage, Religion, Family, Biography Wiki & More

  Margo Martin With Donald Trump Personal Information Full Name : Margo Martin Age : 28 years old Religion : Christianity Height : 5'5" (approx.) Weight : 55 kg (approx.) Nationality : American Family Background Father : David E. Martin (Plastic Surgeon) Mother : Penny Martin Sister : Markie Martin (34 years old, married to Chris McClain) Professional Career Current Position : Deputy Director of Communications for Save America and 45th President Donald J. Trump. Previous Roles : Served as a press aide during Donald Trump’s time in the White House. Worked as Deputy Director of Communications for Trump's Save America PAC. Political Involvement : Actively supported Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. Known for being a staunch supporter of Trump and frequently posts about him on social media. LATEST: Margo Martin Promoted to White House Special Assistant to the President Trump and Communications Advisor Public Image and Activities Social Media Presence : Instagram: @margom...

JUST IN: Dan Bongino Issues Week 5 FBI Reform Update, Emphasizes Accountability and Visible Results

  Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr JUST IN: Dan Bongino Issues Week 5 FBI Reform Update, Emphasizes Accountability and Visible Results Washington, D.C. — FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino shared a significant Week 5 update today, offering insights into ongoing reform efforts at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The update, posted to his official social media account, highlighted Bongino’s continued focus on transparency, accountability, and national security during his field office visits across the country. Bongino, who has been traveling this week to meet with FBI field agents and leadership, stated that the reform mission remains a top priority. “The Director and I have prioritized reforms while also making sure the work being done to ensure the safety of the Homeland continues,” he said. Commitment to FBI Reform and Transparency Reiterating points from his previous communications, Bongino emphasized that efforts are underway to ensure mistakes ...

Karoline Leavitt Responds To SCOTUS Ruling On Returning Man Mistakenly Deported To El Salvador

  Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr JUST IN: Karoline Leavitt Responds to Supreme Court Ruling on Return of Man Mistakenly Deported to El Salvador WASHINGTON, D.C. — During Friday’s White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the high-profile case involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia , a man mistakenly deported to El Salvador. The court ruled that the responsibility to facilitate his return falls under the purview of the current administration, though it does not mandate enforcement. When asked whether President Trump would request that President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador , who is set to visit the White House on Monday, bring Garcia with him, Leavitt offered a measured response. “The Supreme Court made their ruling last night very clear — that it's the administration's responsibility to facilitate the return, not to effectuate it,” she stated. “I believe the Department of Justice has just file...

JUST IN: ArmorCode Faces Backlash Over Employee's Alleged Acts of Vandalism

  ArmorCode Faces Backlash Over Employee's Alleged Acts of Vandalism ArmorCode, a prominent security company, is under intense scrutiny following allegations that one of its employees was involved in a serious act of vandalism. James "Jim" Pelis, a regional sales director at ArmorCode, was reportedly caught on surveillance footage vandalizing a Tesla Cybertruck in the parking lot of the Omni Mount Washington Resort & Spa in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, on March 22, 2025. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with many questioning the company's response to the situation. According to reports, the vehicle's owner, Kerri Pouliot, noted that the vandalism occurred within an hour of her arrival at the hotel. Surveillance footage allegedly shows Pelis keying the vehicle. Despite initial denial when questioned by police, video evidence contradicted his claims. As a result, Pelis now faces potential felony charges, as damaging a vehicle is considered a Class A...

JUST IN: Karoline Leavitt Shares New Message To China Directly From Trump On Tariff Talks

  Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr JUST IN: Karoline Leavitt Shares President Trump’s Message to China on Tariff Talks – “The Ball Is in China’s Court” April 15, 2025 | Washington, D.C. In a bold message delivered during Monday’s White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared a direct statement from President Donald J. Trump aimed squarely at China amid ongoing tariff discussions. Responding to a reporter’s question about the possibility of reducing tariffs on China to secure a trade deal, Leavitt revealed that President Trump had just provided her with an official statement moments earlier in the Oval Office . “The ball is in China’s court. China needs to make a deal with us — we don’t have to make a deal with them,” President Trump’s statement read. “There’s no difference between China and any other country, except they are much larger. And China wants what we have — what every country wants — the American consumer. Or to p...

Harmeet K. Dhillon Mourns the Loss of Her Beloved Husband Sarvjit Singh Randhawa | Dhillon Law Group USA

  Harmeet K. Dhillon With Her Husband Sarvjit Singh Randhawa Harmeet K. Dhillon, Founder of the Dhillon Law Group and a prominent member of the Republican National Committee (RNC), has shared the heartbreaking news of the passing of her beloved husband, Sarvjit Singh Randhawa. After a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease and cancer, Sarvjit passed away peacefully, surrounded by love, with his son and Harmeet holding his hands. Harmeet described Sarvjit as the love of her life, her soulmate, and her heart. She expressed profound gratitude for the joyous life they shared since the moment they met. “He gave me a joyous life ever since we met, and I will always love him,” she said. Harmeet also extended her heartfelt thanks to the friends and family who supported them during the last two challenging years. Their unwavering kindness and generosity, she said, helped ease Sarvjit's transition. A Life of Remarkable Achievements Sarvjit Singh Randhawa led an extraordinary lif...

Congressman Wesley Hunt to Host MAGA Grassroots Meet & Greet event in Bedford, New Hampshire on April 26, 2025

  Wesley Hunt's MAGA Grassroots Meet JUST IN: Congressman Wesley Hunt to Host MAGA Meet & Greet in Bedford, New Hampshire on April 26 Bedford, NH — April 14, 2025: Texas Congressman and Iraq War combat veteran Wesley Hunt is set to headline a MAGA Grassroots Meet & Greet event on Saturday, April 26, 2025 , at 8:30 a.m. The gathering will be held at Simply Delicious Bakery , located at 176 State Route 101 in Bedford, NH . The event, organized by NH4TRUMP – New Hampshire MAGA Grassroots , is being specially promoted by Elizabeth Girard , former Co-Chair of the NH Trump Team. It promises to offer attendees a chance to support a local small business, enjoy coffee, and engage in meaningful conversation with Congressman Hunt—a U.S. Military Academy at West Point graduate and decorated Iraq War combat veteran . “Come support a local small business and join us for coffee and great conversation,” says the event flyer. The invitation emphasizes community engagement, patriotism, a...

What to Know About DeSantis’ Property Tax Elimination Plan and $1,000 Rebates

  Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Holding Press Conference JUST IN: Governor Ron DeSantis Proposes $1,000 Property Tax Rebates for Florida Homeowners Orlando, FL  – In a significant move aimed at easing financial burdens for homeowners, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has proposed a $1,000 property tax rebate for every homesteaded property in the state. This bold initiative could benefit over 5.1 million households across Florida and is being hailed as the first step toward the governor’s broader vision of eliminating property taxes altogether through a future constitutional amendment. What’s in the Proposal? Governor DeSantis’ plan includes issuing rebate checks by December 2025 , specifically targeting state-mandated school property taxes . The plan promises not to affect school district funding, ensuring that Florida’s education system remains fully supported while providing direct relief to homeowners . “Property taxes effectively require homeowners to pay rent to the go...

JUST IN: FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino Responds to FSU Shooting, En Route Back to DC

  Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0,  via Flickr  JUST IN: FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino Responds to FSU Shooting in Tallahassee, En Route Back to DC TALLAHASSEE, FL — April 17, 2025 — FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino has confirmed that federal agents are now on the ground at Florida State University (FSU) following a deadly shooting incident earlier today. In a post shared on social media, Bongino stated that he is currently returning to Washington, D.C., from the FBI's Los Angeles field office and is receiving updates on the situation while in transit. “The FBI is on the scene at FSU. I am en route back to DC from our LA office but we are getting updates on the situation on the plane. We will update you as we learn more,” Bongino posted. Federal Response Underway The FBI's involvement signals the seriousness of the situation, with coordination expected between federal agents, the Tallahassee Police Department, and university law enforcement. While detail...

Ad