Freedom of expression is fundamental to democracy. Press has been correctly described as the guardian of people’s liberty and human rights in a democratic form of political order. The moment press is gagged or journalists are silenced and hounded by the State authority, democracy degenerates into a kind of fascist dictatorship. The arrest of Chandigarh based senior journalist, Mr. Sukhdev Singh, has exposed the totalitarian character of the government as well as exploded the myth of the independence of the fourth estate in India, Mr. Sukhdev Singh is the editorial consultant to the political Newsweekly, Dignity — a fearless champion of Punjab’s legal and constitutional rights. Through its columns Mr. Sukhdev Singh had unleashed a relentless crusade against corrupt anti -Punjab officers and against the Union Government’s cunning designs to rob Punjab of its natural resources.
Earlier Mr. Sukhdev Singh was hounded out of The Tribune by Mr. Prem even though he had served this paper with distinction for many years. Mr. Bhatia, despite his Punjabi origin, has converted The Tribune into an Arya Samajist, antiSikh, anti-Punjab and pro Haryana paper. He has been violating the Trust rules which expressly stipulate total impartiality. Ironically the trust was started and exclusively financed by a Sikh, S. Dyal Singh Majitha. Mr. Sukhdev Singh was eased out as he challenged the subversive role of Mr. Bhatia.
Punjab Continues to remain out of bounds for outside journalists even after nearly two years of Operation Blue Star. Its press is controlled by AntiSikh Arya Samaj elements who project only Union Government’s view. In this otherwise darkling expanse of falsehood and misinformation, Mr. Sukhdev Singh’s forthright voice was the only glimmer of truth and reason. To silence him government tried various underhand techniques. His allotment of the house was cancelled without providing to him any opportunity to justify his claim. Subsequently police raided his house without warrants and conducted an unauthorised search. He was finally arrested in violation of the Supreme Court ruling that journalists are not to be arrested under sections 124A and 153 of I.P.C.
His arrest proves beyond doubt that the Executive in India has reduced judiciary to a mere maid-in-attendance, a sort of Window dressing for deceiving the Free World. What sort of democracy is it where Judiciary and Press are controlled by the imperious Executive?
Free World should realise that the rulers in India are no better than the ousted Philippines dictator Marcos. In fact they are far ‘worse than him, particularly for the religious minorities. Free World must speak out for the oppressed in India. Otherwise, history will record the dismal demise of moral values at the altar of temporary trade gains and vague political permutations. The posterity will neither accept nor condone this degeneration.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 21, 1986
