The Press Club of India finds the alleged high-handedness unleashed by Punjab Government against the Punjab Kesari newspaper deeply perturbing and repulsive.
The Press Club of India finds the alleged high-handedness unleashed by Punjab Government against the Punjab Kesari newspaper deeply perturbing and repulsive.
As the largest representative body of journalists, the Press Club of India strongly condemns the reported intimidatory tactics deployed by the Punjab Government against the newspaper at multiple location.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister of the Punjab, dated January I5, 2026, the publication has alleged that the actions of the state government stem from its dislike for the newspaper’s editorial independence and reporting.
The letter also apprehended that coercive actions undertaken by various departments of the state government and the “heavy deployment of police force” at its presses in Suranussi, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Bhatinda might obstruct or stop the printing of the paper.
Such a naked intimidation of the Press is a hallmark of a police state and not of a democratic ally elected government said the press relese signed by its President Sangeeta Barooah Pishroty and secretary general Afzal Imam.
The Punjab Government would do well to remember that attempts to disrupt the printing or circulation of a newspaper is a grave violation of the fundamental right of freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(A) of the Constitution said the PCI release.
The PCI press statement reminded the Punjab government that over the past many decades, the Supreme Court of India has laid down many judicial precedents, starting with Romesh Thappar State of Madras [1950], which state that attempts to prevent the printing or circulation of a publication is illegal at best or unconstitutional at worst. It further added that in case, other business entities that have been promoted by the owners of Punjab Kesari have violated the laws of the land, then it’s well within the remit of the Punjab Government to investigate them and take suitable action. But such investigations and subsequent actions, if any, must not turn into a witch-hunt against the publication.
The Press Club of India, therefore, urges the Punjab Government that it should not go down the undemocratic path of turning the process of implementation of laws of the land into lawless exercise against Press Freedom said the PCI press statement.
