The phrase “media blackout” popped up again in social media discourse following speculations that the news media is willfully ignoring the recent agitation in Punjab after the alleged desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Here are 10 instances of media as well as Internet and phone services blackouts in India since the start of the 21^st century.

References:

BJP stops telecast of TV channels  – October 26, 2007 

http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main35.asp?filename=Ne031107gujrat_sec.asp

http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/oct/27godhra.htm

http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/india/cable-blackout-275311.html

Limit on bulk SMSes imposed – October 7, 2012

http://blogs.reuters.com/india/2012/08/19/in-bangalore-northeast-life-interrupted/

 http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sms-limit-increased-from-5-to-20-per-day-with-immediate-effect-497588

UP government bans Times Now and India News – January 14, 2014

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Uttar-Pradesh-blacks-out-TV-channels-for-criticizing-Akhilesh-govt/articleshow/28763506.cms

http://www.newslaundry.com/2014/01/14/behind-the-ban-on-times-now/

NDTV blanked out to protest ban on India’s Daughter -March 8^th, 2015

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/leslee-udwin-indias-daughter-bbc-documentary-nirbhaya-rape/1/424444.html

http://www.firstpost.com/living/ndtv-protests-ban-on-bbc-documentry-indias-daughter-goes-blank-for-an-hour-2142425.html

Dimapur lynch mob case – March 8, 2015

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-situation-under-control-in-dimapur-43-arrests-made-2067167

Karnataka government blocks Tamil channels -March 2015

http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/what-is-the-mekedatu-project-115041800544_1.html

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/All-Tamil-TV-channels-blocked/articleshow/46731264.cms

Al- Jazeera blocked for displaying wrong maps – April 23, 2015

http://thediplomat.com/2015/04/india-bans-al-jazeera-for-broadcasting-wrong-maps-of-kashmir/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/23/india-al-jazeera-maps_n_7124678.html?ir=India&adsSiteOverride=in

Gujarat agitation led by Hardik Patel – August 26, 2015

http://www.newslaundry.com/2015/08/27/hardik-patel-ko-gussa-kyun-aaya/

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/stir-over-obc-status-govt-proposes-talks-hardik-patel-plays-hard-ball/

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/after-clashes-over-hardik-patels-detention-no-whatsapp-in-gujarat-1211058?pfrom=home-lateststories

Internet blackout in Kashmir – September 25, 2015

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Internet-blackout-continues-in-Jammu-and-Kashmir/articleshow/49125055.cms

The author can be contacted on Twitter @deekshakhanna95