Press Statement

Unblock ‘4PM News’ YouTube Channel: IJU

02 May, 2025

New Delhi, 2 May 2025: The Indian Journalists Union expresses serious concern over the
Central government blocking “4PM News” YouTube channel, having 7.3 million subscribers, on
April 29, over what it termed as “national security or public order”. The channel’s Editor-inChief, Sanjay Sharma, said: “Our national channel 4 PM has been shut down by the government.
An attempt has been made to suppress a strong voice of democracy by using the excuse of
national security.” The IJU demanded unblocking of the channel.

In a statement, Sharma alleged that he was not given a chance to address any concerns before the
ban. “I love the country not just as much as this government claims, but far more. If the
government had an issue with any video, they could have sent an email to inform us. I would
have investigated myself, and if there was a mistake, I would have removed it.” He, however,
added that he would “continue asking questions to the government” through other channels. It is
learnt that the channel raised some questions about possible security lapses that led to the loss of
lives of 26 tourists in Pahalgam.

In a statement, IJU President and Former Member of Press Council of India Geetartha Pathak
and Secretary general and the International Federation of Journalists Vice president Sabina
Inderjit said the taking down of the channel is an attack on freedom of speech, essential to any
democratic society. The government should have been more transparent in its order and spelt out
the threat to ‘national security or public disorder’, rather than a blanket ban. The action of the
government smacks of censorship and the Union demands that the ban be immediately lifted.