Milpitas(California) In a strongly worded statement, NAPA Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal has condemned what he described as a “systematic attempt to suppress independent journalism” by the official social media machinery of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab. Chahal alleged that AAP’s official Facebook pages are repeatedly issuing copyright strikes against journalists and independent digital platforms in a bid to silence dissenting voices.
Raising serious constitutional and ethical concerns, Chahal questioned whether a ruling party can legitimately claim copyright over publicly accessible content such as images of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann or proceedings of the Punjab Legislative Assembly. He urged the Election Commission of India (through its SVEEP initiative) to clarify whether such actions constitute a misuse of power and public resources.
According to the statement, several independent media outlets and journalists have already been targeted, including Lok Awaaz TV, Ratandeep Singh Dhaliwal, journalist Mintu Gurusaria, and RMB Television. Chahal warned that the repeated use of copyright enforcement mechanisms by a political party in power raises alarming questions about press freedom and democratic accountability in the state.
Chahal further revealed that he has formally written to the Election Commission, the Chief Electoral Officer Punjab, and Kultar Singh Sandhwan, seeking immediate intervention and corrective action. He emphasized that the alleged actions not only violate the spirit of the Copyright Act, 1957 but also amount to an abuse of official machinery for political purposes.
Calling the silence of constitutional authorities “deeply concerning,” Chahal stated that inaction from institutions like the Election Commission and the Speaker’s office only emboldens such practices. He described the situation as an “unconstitutional crackdown on free voices” and urged immediate steps to safeguard democratic principles, media independence, and the right to free expression in Punjab.
The controversy is likely to intensify political debate in the state, with growing demands for transparency and accountability in how digital platforms and legal provisions are being used by those in power.