CHANDIGARH PRESS CLUB CONDEMNS ATTACK ON PRESS FREEDOM, STANDS WITH JOURNALIST JAGWINDER PATIAL

Face2News/Chandigarh

The Chandigarh Press Club strongly condemns the Punjab Police and the AAP-led Punjab Government for withdrawing the security cover of journalist Jagwinder Patial barely a day after he aired a report on ABP News raising serious questions about an alleged corruption nexus involving Punjab Chief Minister’s OSD Rajbir Singh and his associates.

The Chandigarh Press Club is deeply concerned by the timing of the security withdrawal. Patial was provided Y+ security in 2023 following serious threat inputs relating to his life from radical elements and Punjab-based gangsters. The security was provided after the matter was considered by the competent protection review mechanism.

On September 2, Patial aired a report concerning allegations of an alleged nexus relating to transfer-posting, Change of Land Use (CLU), tender allotments, arms licences and confidential government policy matters. The very next morning (September 3), the Punjab Police withdrew his security cover.

The Chandigarh Press Club finds this sequence of events deeply disturbing and unacceptable.

When a journalist, who had earlier been assessed as facing a serious threat to his life, faces withdrawal of security immediately after publishing a report critical of those in power, it inevitably raises serious questions about whether the action is intended to intimidate, pressure or silence the journalist.

The Chandigarh Press Club emphasises that journalists cannot be expected to remain silent merely because their reporting may be inconvenient to those in power. Investigative journalism, questioning the government and reporting matters of public interest are essential to a functioning democracy.

The Chandigarh Press Club strongly condemns any action that effects journalists and their professional work.

The Chandigarh Press Club stands firmly with Jagwinder Patial and all journalists who discharge their professional responsibilities without fear or favour.

Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of democracy. Any attempt to intimidate or silence journalists must be resisted collectively and unequivocally, said Saurabh Duggal, President of Chandigarh Press Club.