Undeclared emergency? Punjab govt defends actions amid press freedom row
The police stated that the checks were intended to curb increasing illegal activities across the state. They claimed that Pakistan's ISI has been smuggling contraband, arms, and explosives across the international border using rogue drones, which are then transported within Punjab through various types of vehicles.
New Delhi: The Punjab government is facing blistering criticism after accusations of press censorship in the state, following reports that several areas did not receive newspapers on time. This comes amid unannounced vehicle checks conducted on the nights of Saturday and Sunday.
The Punjab government, in a statement, said that the checks were conducted following an order from the Intelligence Unit. It further added that the inspections were carried out under the supervision of gazetted officers and in accordance with established protocols.
Opposition slams AAP
Following the incident, several opposition parties attacked the AAP government, alleging that the move was a direct assault on press freedom. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal argued that the government targeted vehicles carrying newspapers "because they do not want anyone writing against them.” He added, "We will oppose such dictatorial actions aimed at preventing the truth from reaching the people, tooth and nail,” in a post on X.
Meanwhile, the BJP president termed the situation "an undeclared emergency by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Punjab,” alleging that the AAP government was afraid the "Sheesh Mahal” controversy would be exposed by the media.
CM Bhagwant Mann responded to the allegations, saying that "Sheesh Mahal” is a government accommodation and his camp office, and urged the saffron party to stop its "dirty propaganda.”
The police stated that the checks were intended to curb increasing illegal activities across the state. They claimed that Pakistan’s ISI has been smuggling contraband, arms, and explosives across the international border using rogue drones, which are then transported within Punjab through various types of vehicles.
Chandigarh Press Club’s reaction
The Chandigarh Press Club, which functions as a journalists’ guild, alleged that newspaper delivery vehicles were stopped and taken to police stations at night, leading to undue harassment of delivery staff and delays in distribution. Reports from several districts — including Gurdaspur, Patiala, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, and others — indicated that newspaper distribution was either delayed or completely halted.
The organisation urged the Punjab government to intervene immediately, ensure the unhindered distribution of newspapers, and uphold the fundamental right to freedom of the press.