AAP raiding our press, hotel in abuse of power, spreading fake narrative: Punjab Kesari Group
The group alleged these raids were made 'with an extraneous motive to intimidate the press'
The Punjab Kesari newspaper group on Saturday alleged that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab was spreading false narratives about it and its promoters, days after the media group wrote to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann claiming that it was targeted with multiple raids by enforcement authorities over its reportage.
In its fresh statement, the group said that “on 11, 12, 13 and 14 January, the group’s business of presses all over Punjab and one hotel in Jalandhar were subjected to harassment/inspections and reports by different departments”.
“All this to harass the management of the Punjab Kesari group in the belief that they will be able to muzzle the press,” it alleged, adding the management has taken legal steps in accordance with the law and the group will not succumb to pressure.
The Congress, BJP, and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have condemned the action against the media group, calling it an attack on press freedom and democracy.
On Saturday, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra termed as “anti-democratic” the Punjab police raids and called upon mediapersons to protest against the incident.
“Arvind Kejriwal cannot ever change. After moving out of Delhi’s Sheesh Mahal, he is now staying in Hawa Mahal in Punjab… Action was taken against the newspaper at the behest of Kejriwal,” Patra alleged at the party headquarters in Delhi.
On Thursday, the group wrote to the Chief Minister alleging that it was being targeted with multiple raids, events that it said began with a “balanced and fair” news report on the opposition’s allegations against Arvind Kejriwal, AAP’s national convenor.
The group alleged these raids were made “with an extraneous motive to intimidate the press”.
The Punjab Government had then rejected the allegation, noting that the claim was “an attempt to deflect attention from serious, recorded violations of law uncovered by multiple statutory authorities acting strictly within their legal mandate”.
