Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Congress MLA from Bholath, condemned the registration of what he termed as vindictive, false and politically motivated criminal cases against independent journalists and RTI activists in Punjab by the Bhagwant Mann led AAP government.
Khaira said that these FIRs are a direct assault on press freedom and democratic dissent, aimed solely at gagging voices that question the failures, corruption and authoritarian functioning of the present regime. “Targeting journalists and RTI activists for doing their constitutional duty is nothing but state-sponsored intimidation,” he asserted. Khaira alleged that AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal has deliberately created a #KejiMedia in Punjab, on the lines of #GodiMedia nurtured by the BJP at the national level, by following a calculated carrot and stick policy. “Bhagwant Mann has either purchased the silence of large sections of mainstream media through patronage and advertisements, or unleashed the police against those journalists and RTI activists who dare to expose the truth,” Khaira said. He added that the recent false implication of independent journalists and RTI activists is a classic example of this coercive strategy.
The Congress MLA stated that the Punjab Police is being blatantly misused as a tool to silence all forms of dissent, criticism and opposition. “By criminalising journalism and activism, the Bhagwant Mann government has crossed all democratic limits. Such actions amount to an undeclared emergency in Punjab,” Khaira said.
Khaira warned that a government which fears questions and scrutiny inevitably slides towards authoritarianism. “Independent media is the fourth pillar of democracy. Crushing it through false FIRs reflects the insecurity and intolerance of the AAP government,” he added.
He further said that instead of focusing on governance, law and order, unemployment and agrarian distress, the government is busy suppressing uncomfortable truths. “This witch-hunt against journalists and RTI activists will not intimidate the people of Punjab, who have a long and proud tradition of standing up against oppression,” Khaira asserted.
Khaira demanded the immediate withdrawal of all false cases registered against journalists and RTI activists and cautioned the government that such draconian actions will be opposed both on the streets and in democratic forums. “The Congress party stands firmly with the independent media, whistle-blowers and all those who dare to speak truth to power,” Khaira concluded.