Eminent citizens write to President, CJI against NewsClick’s anti-India activities

Before a series of verbal spats could abate between the NDA and the Opposition in the Parliament over a volley of issues, another controversy has taken its root over the foreign funding into news portal ‘NewsClick’ by Chinese operators—a claim made by New York Times.
Earlier, the Chinese funding into NewsClick reverberated in Monsoon Session of Parliament as well, with many BJP lawmakers calling out its anti-agenda, at the behest of foreign powers.
Later, a group of 255 eminent citizens wrote an open letter to President Droupadi Murmu and CJI Chandrachud, calling for ‘decisive action’ against the news portal.
As per New York Times investigation, NewsClick was one of the multiple organisations to have received funding from American millionaire Neville Roy Singham and the same was routed by Chinese masters, with an aim to further Chinese agenda in the country.
“As Indians, we are deeply pained by the anti-India agenda originating from fake news peddlers and vested lobbies,’ wrote the group of distinguished citizens.
For the unversed, the offices & premises of NewsClick & its founder were raided by the ED team in 2021 for alleged money laundering. The agency reported found foreign funding to the tune of Rs 76.9 crore in the news outlet.
Calling for action against the news portal in question, the citizens write, “It is high time that this manufactured consensus of anti-national, anti-democratic, and ironically anti-free press agenda is set to rest.”