Created by Tayi Arajakate
Last edited May 15, 2021
The Milli Gazette
File:16-31May2010-FrontPage MilliGazette.jpg
May 2010 Second Fortnight Front Page of The Milli Gazette
TypeOnline Newspaper, previously a Fortnightly newspaper
Owner(s)Pharos Group
PublisherPharos Media
Editor-in-chiefZafarul Islam Khan
FoundedJanuary 2000
LanguageEnglish
HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
ISSN0972-3366
OCLC number54467165
Websitewww.milligazette.com

The Milli Gazette is an Indian English language digital news publication (formerly a fortnightly compact newspaper) based in Delhi. Founded in January 2000, the publication describes itself as the Indian Muslims' Leading News Source.[1] In 2008, it started its e-paper publication.[2]

The Guardian, a British daily while quoting Gazette editor, Zafarul Islam Khan, described the Milli Gazette as "a newspaper widely read among India's 140m Muslims"[3] and "an influential newspaper for Indian Muslims."'[4] The Diplomat and The Citizen described the publication as the first English language Muslim newspaper of India.[5][6]

With its 1–15 January 2010 edition, Milli Gazette completed its 10th year in publication.[7] In 2011, Indian Express reported that the Milli Gazette is frequently cited by media houses on stories related to Indian Muslims.[8]

Closure of print publication[edit | edit source]

In March 2016, the paper published a story titled We don’t recruit Muslims: AYUSH Ministry by journalist Pushp Sharma. The story – based on replies to RTI queries sent to the Ministry of Ayush pertaining to recruitment of Muslim yoga teachers and trainers – alleged that the Ministry did not recruit Muslims "as per government policy". The ministry sent a letter to the Kotla Mubarakpur police station seeking an FIR against Sharma and the newspaper. In May 2016 the paper was issued a show-cause notice based on a complaint by Sharma alleging the publication of misinformation. Sharma denied filing such a complaint. The show-cause notice was withdrawn in 2019 – three years after filing. Editor Zafarul Islam Khan says that this ā€œfiascoā€ accompanied by financial troubles led to the closure of the print publication at the end of 2016, retaining only its digital version.[9][10]

Speaking to The Caravan about the stigma of having a primarily Muslim audience, Khan said "The Hindu community and Hindu businessmen did not advertise with us at all" and that the Muslims who are in a position to advertise did not do so because of the fear of being persecuted by authorities.[11]

Notable contributors[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ MilliGazette.com
  2. ↑ Indian Muslim media of 2008 TwoCircles.net, 02-11-2009, Retrieved 10-06-2010
  3. ↑ Ramesh, Randeep (27 November 2007). "Bangladeshi writer goes into hiding". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  4. ↑ Ramesh, Randeep (10 February 2008). "Leading Indians campaign for exiled writer". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  5. ↑ Jennings, Suzanne (22 June 2015). "Let's Celebrate Yoga Without Religion". Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  6. ↑ Diplomat, Sanjay Kumar, The (8 October 2015). "Murdered Over Beef? Muslims Are Under Siege in India". Retrieved 22 September 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ Milli Gazette: Ten years of a community newspaper TwoCircles.net, 03-02-2010, Retrieved 10-06-2010
  8. ↑ Irena Akbar (15 December 2011). "Should Milli Gazette be allowed to die? - Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  9. ↑ Sarkar, Gaurav (14 February 2019). "The curious case of 'The Milli Gazette'". Newslaundry. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  10. ↑ Sharma, Pushp (11 March 2016). ""We don't recruit Muslims": Modi govt's Ayush Ministry". The Milli Gazette — Indian Muslims Leading News Source. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  11. ↑ Azam, Shireen (1 December 2020). "Why the Hindu nationalist Jagran group runs the Urdu daily Inquilab". The Caravan. Retrieved 23 January 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links[edit | edit source]