The Madras High Court directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to lift the ban imposed on the website of Tamil weekly "Ananda Vikatan" for its cartoon on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.&nbsp;
Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy directed the government to lift the ban, asking the magazine to temporarily take down the page that had the cartoon.&nbsp;
The cartoon was available on the online edition of Vikatan, not its print magazine.&nbsp;
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<h2>See the cartoon here:&nbsp;</h2>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Plz don't circulate this cartoon. U cd be in deep trouble with the Govt of India. The popular Tamil news agency <a href="https://twitter.com/vikatan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vikatan</a> hs been blocked by the GOI, fr publishing this. So, I repeat don't get into trouble &amp; publish this cartoon in any manner. Warning Issued in public interest. <a href="https://t.co/ueqdMBoC6k">pic.twitter.com/ueqdMBoC6k</a>
&mdash; Dr Jaison Philip. M.S., MCh (@Jasonphilip8) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jasonphilip8/status/1891041137684607104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2025</a></blockquote>

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The court said it would &ldquo;examine whether the caricature in question falls under artistic and journalistic freedom or whether it is covered under Section 69A of the IT Act," according to Bar and Bench.&nbsp;
Vikatan in a statement on X said, "the cartoon has been removed in compliance with the order of the Hon&rsquo;ble Madras High Court, subject to further adjudication."
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<h2>What was there in the Modi-Trump cartoon?</h2>
The cartoon showed PM Modi in shackles, sitting next to Trump, referring to the context that Indians are being handcuffed while being deported from the US.&nbsp;
Right before the block, the state BJP said that they had filed a complaint against Vikatan, saying that the cartoon "cast a shadow on the diplomatic progress&rdquo; made by Modi in America.&nbsp;
Further, Vikatan is now consulting legal experts to determine the next steps.&nbsp;
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They said that it had not sent a notice about its website being blocked. They also provided the I&amp;B ministry with a "detailed explanation that the specific cartoon was an expression of freedom of speech&rdquo;.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

India news: Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy directed the government to lift the ban, asking the magazine to temporarily take down the page that had the cartoon.

The Madras High Court directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to lift the ban imposed on the website of Tamil weekly "Ananda Vikatan" for its cartoon on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy directed the government to lift the ban, asking the magazine to temporarily take down the page that had the cartoon. The cartoon was available on the online edition of Vikatan, not its print magazine. Also read: US deports fourth batch of 12 illegal Indian immigrants via Panama, aircraft lands in Delhi See the cartoon here: Plz don't circulate this cartoon. U cd be in deep trouble with the Govt of India. The popular Tamil news agency @vikatan hs been blocked by the GOI, fr publishing this. So, I repeat don't get into trouble & publish this cartoon in any manner. Warning Issued in public interest. pic.twitter.com/ueqdMBoC6k — Dr Jaison Philip. M.S., MCh (@Jasonphilip8) February 16, 2025 The court said it would “examine whether the caricature in question falls under artistic and journalistic freedom or whether it is covered under Section 69A of the IT Act," according to Bar and Bench. Vikatan in a statement on X said, "the cartoon has been removed in compliance with the order of the Hon’ble Madras High Court, subject to further adjudication." Also read: Indians among 300 US deportees held in Panama hotel, some migrants seen pleading for help from window What was there in the Modi-Trump cartoon? The cartoon showed PM Modi in shackles, sitting next to Trump, referring to the context that Indians are being handcuffed while being deported from the US. Right before the block, the state BJP said that they had filed a complaint against Vikatan, saying that the cartoon "cast a shadow on the diplomatic progress” made by Modi in America. Further, Vikatan is now consulting legal experts to determine the next steps. Also read: Top Sikh body condemns US authorities for 'not allowing' Sikh deportees to wear turban They said that it had not sent a notice about its website being blocked. They also provided the I&B ministry with a "detailed explanation that the specific cartoon was an expression of freedom of speech”. (With inputs from agencies)

Modi-Trump cartoon controversy:  Madras HC orders Centre to lift ban on website of Vikatan

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Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

World, india news: India's response came as Volker Turk during the 58th session of the Human Rights Council mentioned India and referred to the situation in Manipur and Kashmir.

India slammed the “unfounded and baseless” comments made by the UN’s human rights chief, who mentioned Kashmir and Manipur in his global update, with Delhi voicing concern over the update’s generalised remarks and “cherry picking” of situations. “As India was mentioned by name, let me begin by emphasising that the world's largest democracy continues to be a healthy, vibrant and pluralistic society. Unfounded and baseless comments in the update contrast jarringly with ground realities,” Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva, Ambassador Arindam Bagchi said Monday. India’s strong retort came after UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, in his global update to the 58th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, mentioned India and referred to the situation in Manipur and Kashmir. Also read: India: Union Minister Amit Shah directs security forces to ensure free movement in Manipur from March 8 Bagchi said the people of India have "repeatedly proven wrong such misplaced concerns about us” and “we would urge a better understanding of India and our civilizational ethos of diversity and openness, which continue to define our robust and often cacophonous civic space.” Bagchi said nothing illustrates this divergence more than the passing reference to Jammu and Kashmir, which Turk "erroneously referred to as Kashmir” in the global update. The Indian envoy said this is ironic in a year that stood out for that region's improving peace and inclusive progress, be it the large turnout in provincial elections, the booming tourism, or the rapid development pace. Also read: India | CRPF jawan kills 2 colleagues before shooting self at Manipur camp Asserting that the global update needs a “genuine update”, Bagchi said, “at a larger level, we are concerned about the global update’s oversimplifications of complex issues, sweeping and generalized remarks, usage of loose terminologies, and apparent cherry picking of situations. “The High Commissioner has sensed a pervasive unease, but we would submit that a key element to addressing this is a long and hard look in the mirror by the Office of the High Commissioner,” Bagchi said. In his global update, the United Nations human rights chief called for “stepped-up” efforts to address violence and displacement in Manipur. Also read: India at UNSC slams Pakistan's campaigns of 'misinformation' over Kashmir “I also call for stepped-up efforts to address violence and displacement in Manipur, based on dialogue, peacebuilding, and human rights," the UN human rights chief said. He further said that he is “concerned by the use of restrictive laws and harassment against human rights defenders and independent journalists resulting in arbitrary detention and a diminished civic space, including in Kashmir." “India’s democracy and institutions have been its greatest strength, underpinning its diversity and development. Democracy requires constant nurturing of participation and inclusion at all levels of society,” Turk said. Also read: Imam convicted for sexually abusing hundreds of children for three decades in Kashmir Valley Turk’s global update, which referred to conflicts and situations ranging from Ukraine, Gaza to Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the US, made no mention of Pakistan. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

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