CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government is likely to come down heavily on the media in the State for “violating its code of conduct” in dealing with and reporting militancy,

At a meeting of deputy commissioners and police chiefs of all districts and Chief Minister Beant Singh, the consensus was that the Governments efforts are often negated by newspaper reports which run contrary to the official viewpoint.

Chief Minister Beant Singh has given the police officials the green signal to use the Terrorists and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA) against scribes if they fail to heed the order to “cooperate.” The main target of the Administration would be the vernacular Punjabi Press,

The Government also proposes to impose a censorship on all newspapers published from Jalandhar, Chandigarh and Delhi. “When the report is censored in the local papers, but carried in the national papers, the purpose of censorship is defeated,” it was generally felt at the meeting.

The Chief Minister told the officials that the Government had made several appeals to the newspapers and media men to co-operate. As they had not responded and their reports, especially those appearing in the Punjabi Press, often negated the efforts of the Administration, the media, it was felt, should be controlled with an iron hand.

Militants can only flout their views through the newspapers, said the Chief Minister. If access to this medium was denied, “people would feel much more confident,” he added.

It was also felt at the meeting that the government must come down heavily on private transporters, petrol pump owners and gas agencies if they observe a bandh on a call given by militants,

The Senior Superintendent of Police, Faridkot, As winder Singh, said that the Income Tax, Sales Tax and Labor departments should raid and penalize establishments which observe bandh. The Deputy Commissioner of Ropar felt that those educational Institutions which close on such days should be derecognized.

The Divisional Commissioner of Jalandhar, RPS Pawar, suggested that telephone facility, free Government transport, Government accommodation and other perks should be withdrawn if journalists write against the establishment.

This is perhaps the first time that the entire State Administration has raised its voice in unison against the media.

The media is likely to face repressive measures like TADA in the days ahead.

Article extracted from this publication >> September 11, 1992