Zee Punjabi blackout is violation of Right to Freedom of Speech - Grewal
Jalandhar : 9 March 2009
Zee Punjab Haryana Himachal TV Channel blackout is violation of Right to Freedom of Speech. Punjab BJP Leader Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal warned Sukhbir Badal to restrain from invading “Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression" enshrined in Article 19(1)(a) of Constitution of India and termed Freedom of Press, "a Treasured Privilege”. Grewal stated that Sukhbir Badal have imposed an undeclared Emergency similar to an Internal Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi in 1975. Grewal stated that the modus operandi of Sukhbir Badal is similar to Indira Gandhi, Late Congress tyrant, who suppressed thought process of the editors through her 3 point programme: allocation of Government advertising; shotgun merger of News agencies; and use of fear arousal techniques on Newspaper Publishers, Journalists and Individual Shareholders. Grewal added that Sukhbir Badal is one step ahead of Indira, apart from ensuring huge allocation of Government advertising, forced takeovers and consolidation of Cable TV Networks through “benami companies” viz. Shan-e-Punjab, DIGI Cable and Fastway Cable and misuse of power against stakeholders of media houses who don’t toe to his line, Sukhbir went on to enterprise his own TV Channels such as PTC Group of TV Channels for self embellishment and quck buck. Since, Sukhbir Badal now controls 95% of the Cable TV Networks, thus Punjab Today and Zee Punjabi News Channels were simply blacked out from Cable TV Networks when they tried to air anything unacceptable to “Chotti Indira Gandhi”.
Grewal equated the current situation with June, 1975, when Indira Gandhi led Congress Government declared a State of Emergency and suspended civil liberties, thereafter the Government tightened its controls on the Indian Mass Media, especially on the Newspapers which had reputation of being free and lively. “Leaders learn from others mistakes and don’t do blunders themselves”, advised Grewal. “Sukhbir shouldn’t create an emergency like situation and repeat historic blunder orchestrated by Indira Gandhi during Internal Emergency of 1975”, added Grewal.
Grewal stressed upon the importance of free mass media in a democratic process of nation building and advised the Press to look beyond advertising. Grewal stated that Sh. L.K Advani, Sardar Prakash Singh Badal and other veteran Leaders of SAD BJP alliance have opposed Internal Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi and even spent Jail terms. Grewal advised Sardar Prakash Singh Badal to intervene and ask Sukhbir to take corrective action else this may result in heavy losses to the alliance in upcoming Lok Sabha Elections as opportunist leaders like Captain Amarinder Singh his adulator Sukhpal Singh Khaira are using the situation as an opportunity to vein false propaganda against SAD BJP alliance.
