Punjab CM’s chopper row: Journalist fraternity to protest in Chandigarh on January 4
Those booked say government can’t silence us, ready for arrest
The journalist fraternity, led by the Bathinda Press Club, has announced a protest in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on January 4 after the Cyber Cell of Ludhiana Police booked 10 individuals, including some YouTubers and an RTI activist, for allegedly spreading rumours and misleading information about the alleged misuse of the Chief Minister’s helicopter during his foreign tour in December last year.
Meanwhile, those booked said they were not afraid and were ready for arrest.
The announcement was made after a meeting of journalists held at the Bathinda Press Club on Thursday under the leadership of its president, Bakhtaur Singh Dhillon.
Addressing the meeting, Dhillon said journalists and an RTI activist had raised questions over the alleged use of the Punjab government’s helicopter, following which a case was registered against them.
He alleged that the government was attempting to muzzle the voices of journalists and suppress dissent.
Dhillon said, “The questions that the Chief Minister himself used to raise while in the Opposition are now leading to cases being registered against journalists and social activists, with preparations being made to send them to jail. The entire journalist community will protest against this in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on January 4.”
He further said that a joint meeting of journalists and public organisations would be convened in Bathinda on January 8, after which a broader agitation would be announced. He also appealed to public organisations to send their representatives to participate in the protest.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chandigarh Journalist Union’s Bathinda district chairman, Gurtej Singh Sidhu, said memorandums would be submitted to Deputy Commissioners and SDMs across the state to register protest against the cases, and large-scale participation would be ensured for the January 4 demonstration.
Those booked say not feared
Baljinder Singh alias Mintu Gurusaria of Malout in Muktsar district, one of the accused, said, “We are ready for arrest and are not even seeking anticipatory bail. However, we will continue to raise issues related to the public. When the Chief Minister was in the Opposition, he urged people to question their elected representatives. By that logic, he should have been booked first.”
RTI activist Manik Goyal of Mansa district, also among those booked, said, “I procured information related to the usage of the CM’s helicopter from the Internet and posted it on my Facebook page on December 9. A case was quietly registered on December 12, but we were not informed. We came to know about it only on Thursday.”
He added, “The state government cannot silence us. We are least worried. I keep on seeking information under the RTI Act, but the government often denies it.”
