# Sonia Gandhi, Media Pressure and Free Speech in India

- Original post: https://www.twitter.com/i/status/2120986162508767515
- Source account: [@ArjyaNeel](https://x.com/ArjyaNeel)
- Source language: English
- Duration: 1:47
- Published: 2026-11-13
- Canonical URL: https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india

## Transcript

[0:00](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india) Another thing that is missing in this so-called love and belonging memoir is how ruthless and cruel Sonia Gandhi was when it came to trampling freedom of speech of journalists.

[0:10](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india?t=10) This is an article which Kanchanda wrote in 2012.

[0:14](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india?t=14) It says, "Indians will choose Ram Rajya over Rome Rajya."

[0:18](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india?t=18) You know what happened the next day? Sonia Gandhi's secretary, Vincent George, called up the editor of Pioneer and sacked Kanchanda.

[0:28](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india?t=28) Kanchanda was on the street without a job for two years.

[0:31](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india?t=31) This is what happened. This was the state of journalism.

[0:34](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india?t=34) And today, the same people like Sanjaya cry over emergency.

[0:38](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india?t=38) Where was Sanjaya then? Did he side with Kanchanda?

[0:41](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india?t=41) Did he stand up with Kanchanda's freedom of expression?

[0:43](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india?t=43) No, he didn't. He was silent. This is the problem in this country.

[0:46](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india?t=46) Well, I can tell you something. Okay. One second. On that point, I want to tell you something, uh, and this is perhaps the first time that I will be speaking about it from a public platform. Sanjaya, I'm sorry you mentioned this.

[0:55](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india?t=55) That there were enough people who were managing the media.

[0:58](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india?t=58) Personally, I was, uh, called several times as the head of newsrooms to make changes under pressure.

[1:07](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india?t=67) And viewers, when you stood up to that pressure, which we did, there were consequences.

[1:15](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india?t=75) We faced consequences. I'll say this. So all those people who talk about Godi media today are the same ones who never hesitated in picking up phones and issuing threats.

[1:26](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india?t=86) Remember, this was the government that went ahead and created an enabling architecture for one of the most draconian pieces of legislation, of policymaking, of rules, 66A.

[1:39](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india?t=99) Please go check, viewers, and see how many people fell foul of that.

[1:42](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/xoioQvcVT9nt/en/sonia-gandhi-media-pressure-and-free-speech-in-india?t=102) Anyhow.