The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) strongly condemns the ongoing harassment of independent journalists in Punjab by the state government and law enforcement agencies. Brave voices such as Maninderjit Singh (Lok Awaz), Sukhwinder Singh Sidhu (Lok Naad), Mintu Gurusaria, Sandeep Ladhuka (ABC Punjab), Jass Grewal (RMB Television), Gurpreet Singh (Punjabi News Corner), and others have been relentlessly targeted for performing their democratic duty — to speak truth to power.
In recent weeks, a disturbing pattern has emerged in which media personnel who raise critical questions, expose injustices, or challenge political narratives are being summoned for long hours of interrogation, subjected to digital surveillance, and even threatened with legal action. This is a blatant attempt to stifle press freedom and muzzle dissent in a state that has always upheld a strong tradition of fearless journalism.
These journalists, who continue their vital work in the face of intimidation, are not only reporting stories — they are defending the very soul of democracy. Their courage in upholding truth, transparency, and accountability deserves not just recognition but unwavering solidarity from civil society, diaspora communities, and human rights organisations around the world.
NAPA urges the Punjab government to immediately stop the misuse of police powers and end this politically motivated vendetta against the free press. Journalism is not a crime — silencing journalists is.
We appeal to national and international media watchdogs, the Press Council of India, and the United Nations Human Rights Council to take urgent note of this situation and advocate for the safety and independence of journalists in Punjab.
In times like these, standing with those who stand for truth is not just an option — it is a moral obligation.