The Punjab government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party, is facing renewed accusations of suppressing dissent after police stopped newspaper distribution vans in several towns on October 31. The action disrupted delivery across Chandigarh districts, except Mohali, preventing newspapers from reaching readers on time. This incident occurred a day after publications carried allegations from the Bharatiya Janata Party that AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal was residing in a luxurious government bungalow in Chandigarh, described as Sheesh Mahal 2.0. Opposition parties, including Congress, criticized the move as an assault on press freedom. Police officials justified the action by citing intelligence inputs about possible drug and ammunition smuggling through such vehicles. The controversy adds to a series of recent events, including transfers of senior bureaucrats and arrests of party legislators, raising concerns about governance and freedom of expression in the state.
Police Action and Opposition Criticism
Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla stated that newspaper vans were stopped on October 31 based on intelligence suggesting they might be used for smuggling drugs and ammunition. The vans were eventually released, but distribution remained disrupted across Chandigarh districts except Mohali. Congress leaders sharply criticized the Bhagwant Singh Mann government. AICC secretary Pargat Singh alleged the government aimed to prevent news about Kejriwal's residence in a government bungalow from reaching the public. Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa termed the incident a chilling attack on press freedom, comparing Kejriwal and Mann to Prime Minister Modi and accusing them of lacking faith in democracy and the Constitution.
Transfer of Officials and Arrests of Legislators
Just before the controversy, the Mann government transferred Ajoy Sinha, a 1996-batch IAS officer known for independence, from his position as Principal Secretary, Power. Sinha, who remains without a new posting, was recognized for insisting on transparency and due process. Senior bureaucrats noted the transfer created a chilling effect, sending a clear message to fall in line. In September, AAP MLA Harmit Singh Pathanmajra was booked in a rape case and arrested, though he later escaped and remains absconding. His arrest followed his public criticism of the government's flood relief handling. Earlier, in May, AAP MLA Raman Arora was arrested for alleged fraud, and in June, MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh was suspended for questioning government actions.
Source: Link