Mann-led Punjab Govt cannot silence people by halting newspaper supply: MLA Dhaliwal

District Congress Committee (DCC) Kapurthala President and MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal has accused the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government of attempting to suppress the people’s voice by allegedly stopping the supply of newspapers across several districts.

Dhaliwal condemned the incidents reported between Friday and Saturday midnight in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur and Bathinda, where, according to him, vehicles transporting newspapers were stopped under the pretext of searches, drivers’ mobile phones were confiscated and vehicles were forcibly taken to police stations.

He said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann cannot silence the voice of Punjab’s people by halting newspaper distribution, terming the alleged actions as “a reflection of the AAP government’s frustration and desperation.”

Dhaliwal alleged that newspapers were being intimidated to prevent the publication of criticism against the government and to mislead the public, adding that such actions would ultimately lead to the downfall of the Bhagwant Mann government.

The Congress leader said the Mann government had realised during the Tarn Taran by-election that there was deep public resentment against a regime that came to power with 92 MLAs, but has since failed on every front. “Punjab has neither become drug-free nor has law and order been maintained. Unemployment is at its peak and the state’s debt has reached Rs 4 lakh crore,” he said.

Dhaliwal also pointed out that aided school staff were protesting against the very government that claims to have brought an ‘education revolution’, while employees across departments were suffering due to neglect. “Law and order have completely collapsed, with daily incidents of theft, robbery, looting, and shootings making people feel unsafe,” he said.

Dhaliwal appealed to Punjabis to teach a fitting lesson to the Aam Aadmi Party in the November 11 by-election, describing it as a party acting against Punjab’s interests and attempting to crush press freedom.