SUNIL JAKHAR WRITES TO GOVERNOR
(MOREPIC1)Face2News/Chandigarh
BJP leader Sunil Jakhar in a communication to Sh. Banwari Lal Puruhit Governor of Punjab, expresses resentment regarding the grave abuse of government authority by incumbent AAP regime in throttling the voice of independent journalism in Punjab through its arbitrary and discriminatory practices of stopping the advertisements of print newspapers and broadcast media critical of the present dispensation.
Press freedom is the strength that binds together all other critical pillars of a democratic society. The rampant practice of penalising those press and media institutions which do not toe the Punjab government's line points to a dangerous trend of muzzling the freedom of this vital institution we proudly refer to as The Fourth Estate.
In this regard, it is worth mentioning that the Bhagwant Mann-led state government has been withholding issuance of government advertisements to those newspapers and channels which it wants to pressurise into submission.(SUBHEAD)
It is common knowledge that this vicious agenda has been manifesting itself against all major newspapers of our region and of national base and across all languages; including those which have played a vanguard role in always raising people's voice against usurpation of the democratic rights, and some have even stood against the tyranny of colonial power during the pre-independence period and that this atrocity has been committed against media of all languages is equally condemnable.
Needless to say that this is public money and to manipulate its use in an insidious manner by using it as a bait to force a favourable response from Media and throttle the institution's inherent and institutional capacities as an arbiter of public faith is the most malicious act an government can indulge into.
In a vibrant society as ours, it is paramount for the media to be asking questions and making the government of the day accountable to its decisions; and not merely kowtowing to it. The avowed role as a watchdog of public trust and confidence further puts Media at a higher pedestal in their duty and responsibility towards the people of India.
Another grim aspect of this assault is its timing as the conventional media is already beset with headwinds emanating from proliferation of the online media industry. This condition of financial crunch is now being exploited to make media bow to government's whims and fancies.
In view of these serious transgressions, I urge you to kindly give your personal attention to these and take urgent necessary steps to remedy the same in greater interest of the people of our state.