Chandigarh – Former Punjab Minister and MLA Pargat Singh has issued a strong statement expressing concern over what he calls the rising coercion and authoritarianism in the state, urging both the judiciary and the media to uphold their constitutional responsibilities.
In his tweet, Singh highlighted that in a healthy democracy, the burden of accountability should not fall solely on the Opposition. “The judiciary must ensure accountability for illegal orders, and the media must amplify the people’s voice by questioning those in power,” he said.
Singh pointed to what he sees as a troubling silence from institutions that are meant to enforce checks and balances, as well as from sections of the media that historically played a critical role in holding the powerful accountable. “History shows that in times of authoritarianism, the media chose courage over commercial interests and upheld its true role. Today, however, there is a worrying silence,” he noted.
He specifically criticized the alleged misuse of the Copyright Act, 1957, claiming that even official Assembly and Chief Minister photographs were being leveraged to target journalists. Despite repeated representations to constitutional authorities, Singh said no action has been taken to curb this practice.
During the last Assembly session, Singh observed, key questions that were raised inside the House were reportedly silenced, yet the media largely chose not to air them. He questioned whether the Opposition itself should take a stronger stance in highlighting this silence.
Singh concluded by emphasizing that the survival of democracy in Punjab should take precedence over personal or institutional interests. “Whether we remain or not, whether media institutions survive or not, what matters is the precedent we leave for democracy and Punjab. From the Centre to the state, has controlling media and democratic institutions really become this easy?”
His statement comes amid ongoing debates over press freedom and the role of democratic institutions in Punjab, adding a new layer of concern as the 2027 Assembly elections approach.