In a sharp critique of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, the Leader of Opposition, Partap Singh Bajwa, on Thursday strongly condemned the registration of FIRs against an RTI activist and journalists. The cases were filed for raising questions about the usage of a government helicopter during the chief minister's absence.
Bajwa Accuses AAP of Coercive Politics
Bajwa asserted that these police complaints reveal the real face of the AAP administration. He argued that this is not the promised 'alternative politics' but rather a coercive strategy of intimidation. The opposition leader accused the government of using police, FIRs, and fear to silence legitimate questions instead of providing answers. He drew a direct parallel, stating this approach is indistinguishable from the playbook often associated with the BJP.
Elaborating on the dangers of criminalizing queries and controlling narratives through fear, Bajwa invoked a grim historical example. He recalled the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, where Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM) was weaponized for propaganda. The station spread lies, demonized dissent, and incited hatred. "When power uses media and the state machinery to brand critics as enemies and suppress facts, society is pushed down a dark and irreversible path," Bajwa warned.
Contrast with Democratic Ideals and RTI Act
Bajwa contrasted the current situation with India's democratic safeguards. He highlighted that the Right to Information Act was enacted by the former UPA government led by Dr. Manmohan Singh to enhance transparency, empower citizens, and ensure governmental accountability. The law was designed to replace secrecy with public answerability. Bajwa lamented that the AAP is now eroding the very constitutional rights it once vowed to protect, effectively turning questions into offences and transparency into a crime.
Scathing Attack on AAP Leadership
The Congress leader launched a direct attack on the AAP's top brass. He stated that history shows authoritarian leaders rely on fear and propaganda. Bajwa cited the example of Adolf Hitler, who ruled through intimidation and narrative control, a strategy perfected by his propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. He implied that when contemporary rulers file FIRs against journalists and orchestrate media management to obscure facts, such historical comparisons become inevitable.
Directly calling out Punjab's Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Bajwa posed pointed questions: "Is this the 'Badlaav' (change) promised by Arvind Kejriwal? Is this governance under Bhagwant Mann—a regime where dissent is policed and propaganda replaces accountability?" His remarks underscore a deepening political rift in Punjab over issues of free speech and governmental transparency.
