Punjab Police Raid ‘Punjab Kesari’ After Kejriwal Exposé
Raids after report on Kejriwal; newspaper says power cut, seeks Governor’s protection
- Multiple Punjab Kesari offices raided by Punjab Police and state agencies
- Action followed a report critical of Arvind Kejriwal’s stay in Punjab
- Newspaper alleges electricity was cut at its premises
- Punjab Kesari appeals to Governor for protection, compares incident to Emergency-era censorship
GG News Bureau
Chandigarh, 16th Jan: A major controversy has erupted over press freedom in Punjab after multiple offices of the Hindi daily Punjab Kesari were allegedly raided by Punjab Police and other state agencies following the publication of a critical news report on former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
According to the newspaper’s management, the raids were conducted soon after it published a story stating that Kejriwal, after electoral defeat in Delhi, has been “permanently camping in Punjab.” Punjab Kesari claims that teams from various departments entered its offices across the state in a coordinated manner.
The newspaper further alleged that electricity supply to its press facilities was also cut off, severely disrupting its operations. In response, the management has formally written to Punjab Governor seeking security and intervention, stating that the actions amount to intimidation of the media.
Not to forget, similar tactics were used during the Emergency (1975–77) when the Indira Gandhi government allegedly targeted independent newspapers like The Indian Express through raids and censorship.
While Punjab Police has not yet issued a detailed official statement, sources in the administration have said that the action was part of a “routine inspection,” a claim rejected by the newspaper as politically motivated.
Opposition parties and media rights groups have condemned the move, calling it a direct attack on free speech and independent journalism. They have demanded an impartial inquiry into the raids and restoration of power supply to the newspaper’s offices.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab has so far maintained silence on the allegations, while political observers say the incident could intensify debate over media freedom in the state.
