Captain Amarinder Singh Takes Badals On for Suppressing The Press
Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha and former Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, has called into question the heavy-handedness of the Badal government for its handling of the press and media. Stepping up for freedom of the press in a secular and sovereign nation, he argued that using their political clout, the Badals were trying to manipulate the press into toeing their lines.
"Right from the day this government took over, it has resorted to gagging the freedom of the press", he said while warning that "this is a pernicious proclivity which must not only be condemned but resisted at all costs by everybody in the interest of our democratic freedom" he said.
It all started when a few channels were picked out and their broadcast banned for not falling in line with the Badals, who control a large part of cable broadcasting all across Punjab. That stemmed up a growing dissent towards the media which came out when the recent Dina Nagar terror strike was reported by a leading newspaper which was slapped with a defamation case by the Badal govt.
That triggered a sense of discomfort in the people who questioned the move being seen as the government’s non-acceptance of free media. Captain Singh reacted strongly to it, taking on Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal who has the police and home ministry under his jurisdiction. He said, “This is a democracy that guarantees the freedom of press and not a dictatorship you are trying to turn it into."
He was also extremely critical of the govt. for holding undue advantage over certain sections of the print media. He raised the growing allegations that the Badals secretly penalize publications and dailies which did not conform to their ideological philosophies. Some such publications are national and regional dailies which are not awarded govt. advertisements and therefore suffer financial losses.
"Let me remind you that India is a democracy and our constitution grants and guarantees us freedom of expression", he said, and warned the Akalis, saying, "curtailing and hindering the freedom of press is a criminal offence and people of Punjab will hold you accountable and answerable for all these offences".
Captain Singh also said that freedom of the press and diversity of opinions hallmark a free and democratic nation like India. He added that the Akali government, by suppressing the press, is unduly leveraging media for their own advantage. Calling it a dangerous precedent, he said that it could hurt the nation’s democratic traditions and institutions.
"Right from the day this government took over, it has resorted to gagging the freedom of the press", he said while warning that "this is a pernicious proclivity which must not only be condemned but resisted at all costs by everybody in the interest of our democratic freedom" he said.
It all started when a few channels were picked out and their broadcast banned for not falling in line with the Badals, who control a large part of cable broadcasting all across Punjab. That stemmed up a growing dissent towards the media which came out when the recent Dina Nagar terror strike was reported by a leading newspaper which was slapped with a defamation case by the Badal govt.
That triggered a sense of discomfort in the people who questioned the move being seen as the government’s non-acceptance of free media. Captain Singh reacted strongly to it, taking on Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal who has the police and home ministry under his jurisdiction. He said, “This is a democracy that guarantees the freedom of press and not a dictatorship you are trying to turn it into."
He was also extremely critical of the govt. for holding undue advantage over certain sections of the print media. He raised the growing allegations that the Badals secretly penalize publications and dailies which did not conform to their ideological philosophies. Some such publications are national and regional dailies which are not awarded govt. advertisements and therefore suffer financial losses.
"Let me remind you that India is a democracy and our constitution grants and guarantees us freedom of expression", he said, and warned the Akalis, saying, "curtailing and hindering the freedom of press is a criminal offence and people of Punjab will hold you accountable and answerable for all these offences".
Captain Singh also said that freedom of the press and diversity of opinions hallmark a free and democratic nation like India. He added that the Akali government, by suppressing the press, is unduly leveraging media for their own advantage. Calling it a dangerous precedent, he said that it could hurt the nation’s democratic traditions and institutions.
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