The Sunday Guardian
Indian right-nationalist, pro-BJP
Background
The Sunday Guardian was launched on January 31, 2010, in New Delhi by veteran journalist and author M.J. Akbar, who served as its founding editor-in-chief. The paper was conceived as an analytical and investigative Sunday broadsheet, distinct from daily news cycles, with a focus on commentary and long-form reporting. In 2012, the publication was acquired by iTV Network, a media conglomerate founded by Kartikeya Sharma. M.J. Akbar departed as editorial director in May 2014 to pursue a political career with the BJP, later serving as a junior minister in the Indian government before resigning in 2018 amid #MeToo allegations. The paper is currently edited by Joyeeta Basu, with M.D. Nalapat serving as editorial director. Kartikeya Sharma himself won a Rajya Sabha seat from Haryana in June 2022 as an independent candidate backed by the BJP and its then-ally, the Jannayak Janta Party — a political alignment that has shaped the outlet's editorial orientation. The Sunday Guardian's commentary frequently defends BJP government policies, critiques opposition Congress-led administrations, and challenges what it characterizes as anti-India bias in Western or liberal media.
Sources
- The Sunday Guardian – Wikipedia
- Kartikeya Sharma – Wikipedia
- M. J. Akbar – Wikipedia
- Media baron Kartikeya Sharma files Rajya Sabha nomination from Haryana – The Print
- Kartikeya Sharma of ITV Network to file Rajya Sabha nomination – Exchange4media
- The Sunday Guardian – Grokipedia
- iTV Network – official site
Profile compiled 2026-07-04; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.