PPCC Stands in Solidarity with S. Barjinder Singh Hamdard, against AAP Government’s Tyranny : Raja Warring
Vigilance Action against S. Barjinder Singh Hamdard is an attack on the Freedom of the Press: PPCC Chief
Chandigarh, May 29, 2023: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee today condemned the Punjab government’s recent actions to muzzle the freedom of the Press. Expressing his ire over Punjab Vigilance Bureau’s summons against S. Barjinder Singh Hamdard, Editor-in-Chief, daily Ajit, state chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said that the Aam Aadmi Party government has been using numerous tactics to silence journalists. Using govt machinery to threaten, harass and arrest journalists, raiding newsrooms and censoring news stories are a clear attack on the freedom of the fourth pillar of democracy.
Slamming the AAP government in Punjab, Warring said that the Aam Aadmi Party has failed drastically in fulfilling its poll promises. Media plays a pivotal role in a democracy. Since it is the voice of the society, it has the power to hold the government accountable. Sadly, journalists are being targeted by the Punjab government who are doing ethical journalism and exposing the failures of the state govt.
Warring said the dictatorial face of the Aam Aadmi Party has been exposed. Its oppression and intimidation has reached a zenith and independent institutions are being selectively targeted in order to silence the constructive criticism and dissent against the ruling government.
Coming down heavily on the poor governance of the Aam Aadmi Party, Warring said that it is shameful that AAP is restricting the constitutional right of freedom of speech and hampering the Freedom of Press. AAP has been misleading the voters with its propaganda, false claims and is misusing police force and other departments to suppress dissent and maintain control. The AAP leadership has not only resorted to torturing and silencing the opposition leaders but also the journalists who expose them before the public. We will not tolerate any atrocity against the journalists and will stand against the government’s tyranny, he added.
The Punjab Congress leadership today met in Delhi to deliberate upon the development in Punjab. They unanimously condemned the misuse of state instrumentalities by the AAP Government in Punjab and decided to meet Mr. Hamdard at his office in Jalandhar on June 1.
The party chief appealed to all the parties to rise above party politics and raise voice jointly against this brazen attack on Media. We humbly appeal to all the democratic and liberal political parties and other social, cultural and religious institutions to assemble at daily Ajit’s office in Jalandhar at 1:00 p.m. on June 1 to express their solidarity with Hamdard sahab. It is high time we all stand together and protect the democratic model in Punjab, he said.
Those who were present during the meeting included Incharge Punjab Congress Harish Chaudhary, PPCC President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader Of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, Ex-Deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Ex-Deputy CM O P Soni, Former Speaker Rana K P Singh, Senior Party leader and MLA Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, MP Manish Tewari, MP Amar Singh, PPCC Working President Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Former PPCC President Navjot Singh Sidhu and Secretary AICC Gurkirat Singh Kotli.
