Punjab Government Faces Backlash Over Newspaper Van Raids
In a controversial move that has sparked nationwide concern, Punjab Police conducted pre-dawn raids on newspaper distribution vans across multiple towns last week, leading to significant disruption in newspaper delivery and reviving allegations that the Aam Aadmi Party government is systematically crushing dissent.
The police action occurred on October 31, when delivery vans belonging to major publications, including The Indian Express, were stopped and searched, causing newspapers to reach readers late in the Punjab capital. The timing raised eyebrows as it coincided with newspapers carrying the BJP's fresh allegations about AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal occupying what they termed a 'Sheesh Mahal 2.0' in Chandigarh.
Political Fallout and Opposition Reaction
The opposition parties were quick to condemn the police action, linking it directly to the Kejriwal bungalow controversy. Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa, the Leader of the Opposition, described the raids as "a chilling attack on press freedom" and accused both Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of following what he called the Modi playbook.
AICC secretary Pargat Singh went further, alleging that the Mann government was deliberately trying to prevent news about Kejriwal's government bungalow in Chandigarh from reaching the public. The BJP had earlier described the Sector 2 bungalow where Kejriwal stays during his Punjab visits as a "seven-star facility" and "Sheesh Mahal 2.0" - a reference to the same allegation that contributed to AAP's defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections earlier this year.
The AAP government has denied these charges, maintaining that the bungalow serves only as "a camp office" for their national convenor.
Police Justification and Actual Impact
Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla defended the police action, stating that it was based on specific intelligence inputs suggesting that newspaper delivery vans could be used to smuggle drugs and ammunition into the border state. "Punjab needs to be cautious given its strategic location," Shukla explained.
While the police eventually released all the intercepted vans, the damage was already done. Newspaper distribution was severely disrupted across all Chandigarh districts, with Mohali being the only exception where deliveries proceeded normally.
Pattern of Actions Against Dissent
This incident appears to be part of a broader pattern of actions taken by the Punjab government against perceived critics in recent months:
Bureaucratic Transfers: Just days before the newspaper van controversy, the Mann government transferred Ajoy Sinha, the Principal Secretary of Power and CMD of Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd. Sinha, a 1996-batch IAS officer known for his independence, remains without any posting. Senior bureaucrats described the transfer as having a "palpable chilling effect" with the clear message to "fall in line or fall out."
Action Against Party MLAs: In September, AAP Sanour MLA Harmit Singh Pathanmajra was booked in a three-year-old case on charges of rape, cheating, and criminal intimidation. His arrest came just one day after he criticized the government's handling of flood relief and accused the Delhi leadership of interfering in Punjab affairs. Pathanmajra subsequently escaped and remains at large.
Earlier, in May, AAP Jalandhar MLA Raman Arora was arrested for allegedly duping individuals in collusion with government officials. There were reports of Arora cozying up to the BJP before his arrest.
In late June, Amritsar MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, a former IPS officer, was suspended from AAP for five years after questioning the government's handling of cases involving Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia and the Bargari sacrilege case.
Bureaucratic Reshuffling: The government also removed 2001-batch IAS officer Gurkirat Kirpal Singh as Home Secretary in March, and he remains without any charge seven months later. The action came soon after he attended the wedding ceremony of Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal's daughter. Similarly, IPS officer Varinder Kumar was removed as Vigilance chief in April and given no significant posting until his retirement on July 31.
Government's Defense
AAP spokesperson Neel Garg strongly denied all allegations that the party uses official machinery to curb dissent. "We are a democratic party. We follow the rules of democracy in letter and spirit. We do not do anything which can be questioned," Garg asserted, maintaining that all government actions were procedurally correct and justified.
As the controversy continues to unfold, the incident has raised serious questions about press freedom and democratic norms in Punjab, with civil society organizations and media bodies closely monitoring the situation.
