FIR against Newz Radar: Sukhu govt resorting to dictatorship to mask own failures, says ex-CM Jai Ram
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Shimla: In a press statement issued here on Friday evening, the Leader of Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur launched a scathing attack on the Himachal Pradesh government, accusing the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu administration of descending into dictatorial practices to conceal its failures.
Jai Ram maintained that “journalists exposing the government’s shortcomings are being targeted with lawsuits and intimidation tactics”
“Instead of addressing its own failures, the Sukhu government is resorting to oppressive measures. It has filed legal cases against journalists who dared to report the truth. This is an alarming assault on the freedom of the press and democracy itself,” he said.
The former CM pointed out that in recent instances, a journalist from Dharamshala (Sunil Chadha, Executive Editor of The Newz Radar) was slapped with an FIR allegedly at the behest of the Chief Minister’s inner circle. “This is nothing less than an attempt to strangle the voice of the media, which is a crucial pillar of our democracy,” he added.
Jai Ram expressed deep concern over what he termed as an “undeclared emergency” in the state. “This government is not just failing in its duties, but is now trying to stifle the voices that hold it accountable. Instead of delivering on promises and improving governance, it is busy harassing journalists and civil society members who dare to shine a light on its inefficiencies.”
Jai Ram also highlighted the alleged embarrassment the Sukhu government had brought to Himachal Pradesh on the national stage. “The Chief Minister has left no stone unturned in tarnishing the state’s image at the national level. And now, he expects only praise from the media. But that will not happen. Journalists will not endorse lies. When a government fails and continuously misleads the public, the media has a duty to call it out.”
He warned the government that its “dictatorial tendencies” would not go unnoticed. “This government’s authoritarian approach will not last. People across the state, from all walks of life, will rise up against its failures. The truth cannot be hidden behind lawsuits, nor can the voices of the people be silenced.”
Call for democratic approach
The opposition leader urged the Sukhu government to abandon its “repressive stance and behave like a true democratic institution”. “The government must fulfill its promises, revive the stalled development projects and prioritise issues of public interest. Continuing down this path of authoritarianism will only lead to disaster, as history has shown us time and again.
He also demanded an immediate halt to the legal cases against journalists and called for the withdrawal of all pending lawsuits against members of the press. “The government must stop this assault on free speech and take back the cases it has filed against those who simply reported the truth,” he said.
