CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Chandigarh Journalist Union has strongly condemned the registration of cases against journalists, RTI activists and social media activists by the Ludhiana Urban Cyber Crime Police, terming the move a direct attack on press freedom and freedom of expression.
Punjab and Chandigarh Journalist Union State Chairman Balbir Jandu, Indian Journalist Union Executive Member and State Vice President Rajan Mann, President Jai Singh Chhibber and Secretary General Santokh Gill expressed strong protest against the action.
In a memorandum sent to the Chairperson and Secretary of the Press Council of India, the union demanded immediate directions to the Punjab Government and the Director General of Police to withdraw or quash the cases.
The memorandum highlighted that cases have been registered against Bathinda district unit press secretary Mandeep Singh Makkar, Lok Awaaz TV’s Maninder Singh Sidhu, Mintu Gurusaria, RTI activist Manik Goyal and other social media activists. The union termed the action unjustified and an attempt to intimidate those raising questions in public interest.
Condemning the move, the union leaders said that filing false cases cannot suppress the voice of truth. They alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, which came to power on the promise of change, is now moving towards curbing the people’s right to question, which is unacceptable.
The Punjab and Chandigarh Journalist Union has called upon all district, tehsil and local units to submit memorandums through Deputy Commissioners, SDMs or other concerned officials to the Press Council of India, the Governor of Punjab, the Punjab Government and the President of India in protest against the FIRs.
The union warned that such actions pose a serious threat to democratic values and press freedom and said it would intensify its struggle if the cases are not withdrawn immediately.