Punjab newspapers delayed by police checks; opposition cries censorship attack
What's the story
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab is facing criticism for allegedly censoring the media. On Sunday, several areas of the state witnessed delays in newspaper deliveries as police checked vehicles on Saturday night. The Punjab Police later clarified that they were acting on specific intelligence inputs and conducted checks at designated points under the supervision of gazetted officers.
Political backlash
BJP leader calls it 'undeclared emergency'
The opposition parties in Punjab have accused the AAP government of suppressing the media. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashwini Sharma called it an "undeclared Emergency by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann." Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal also slammed the government for targeting newspaper delivery vehicles. He wrote on X that they don't want anyone writing against them and vowed to oppose such actions.
Security justification
Police cite security concerns for vehicle checks
The Punjab Police justified the vehicle checks by citing security concerns. They said anti-national forces have been "changing their modus operandi" and intensifying activities after "Operation Sindoor." The police assured that security exercises would be conducted with minimum public inconvenience during these checks. However, the Chandigarh Press Club condemned the action of stopping newspaper delivery vehicles as an attack on press freedom.
Press freedom
Chandigarh Press Club condemns action
The Chandigarh Press Club said newspaper delivery vehicles were taken to police stations, causing harassment and delays. They received reports from several districts where distribution was delayed or stopped completely. The club called these actions an attack on press freedom and a bid to control information flow through state machinery. It urged the Punjab government to ensure unhindered newspaper distribution and uphold press freedom rights.