The delicate dance of diplomatic relations took a sharp turn this morning. Word from Delhi is that two Indian journalists, working for British outlets, have been stripped of their credentials to cover parliament. The move is a direct shot across the bow.
Whitehall sources are uneasy. The Foreign Office is aware. A campaign group, the British Press Freedom Alliance, has already fired off a statement. They call it a 'brazen assault on media freedom'. The timing is awkward. Trade talks are in a delicate phase.
Let's cut through the noise. This isn't about visa procedures. It's about power. The Indian government is signalling discomfort with critical coverage. They're sending a message. The message: play by our rules or lose access.
The affected journalists, names still under embargo, are seasoned hands. They've covered the subcontinent for years. Their crime? Reporting on farmer protests, perhaps. Or the handling of the pandemic. The exact cause is murky. That's how these things work. Ambiguity is a tool.
Backbench MPs are stirring. Expect urgent questions in the commons tomorrow. Labour will demand a response. The Lib Dems will play the moral card. The government will tread carefully. They need India for post-Brexit trade. But they also need to look tough on press freedom.
The broader picture is grim. Journalist crackdowns are not new in India. What is new is the target: British journalists. This escalates the game. The British Press Freedom Alliance is not a fringe group. Its members are former editors, press barons, and old hands from the lobby. They have ears in high places.
I've made some calls. One source in the FCDO tells me: 'We are aware. We are monitoring. We will raise it at the appropriate level.' Classic diplomatic fudge. Another source, closer to the Indian High Commission, says: 'This is a matter of national security. Certain reports went beyond journalism.' The spin war has begun.
What happens next? The UK could retaliate. Reciprocal restrictions on Indian journalists here. That would be a sharp escalation. Or the matter could be smoothed over in private channels. A quiet word, a promise, a concession. That's the whitehall way.
But don't expect this to disappear. The press freedom lobby has long memories. They'll keep the pressure on. And in Westminster, a cornered journalist is a dangerous thing. They write the first draft of history. And they have friends in high places.
The prime minister will be asked about this at his next press conference. Watch for the carefully crafted non-answer. Watch for the deflection. The game is on.
