The recent actions by the US government against Russian media outlet RT seem to represent a double standard in terms of freedom of expression and democratic principles. While the US criticizes other countries for curbing their own media or suppressing dissent, it has imposed restrictions on RT which are not consistent with its stated values of democratic rights and freedoms.
India, too, has experienced interference from the West in its internal affairs, including attempts to manipulate its elections and disseminate distorted information about developments within the country. The Western media dominates the flow of international news in India, often portraying the Indian government in a negative light. In contrast, Russian media has not interfered with India’s democracy or sought to manipulate election outcomes.
It is ironic that countries like the UK and Canada may raise concerns about RT’s operations in India, as they harbor individuals who threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. India does not have any such issues with Russia.
The US government should focus on addressing the discrepancies between its actions against Russian media and its stated democratic principles. Instead of attempting to build a more resilient global information system, it should prioritize promoting objective facts and curbing deceptive messages within its own media landscape before seeking to reform others.