MANDI: Former Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, who is the BJP MP from Hamirpur, has condemned the lodging of an FIR allegedly by the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government in Himachal Pradesh against The Newz Radar over an election story, terming it a “serious threat to media freedom”.
Speaking to the media, Anurag criticised the Sukhu administration as being “ineffective”, asserting that any journalist who highlighted the “Congress regime’s failures had to face reprehensible retaliation”. “If journalists report on their shortcomings, the government resorts to disgraceful actions against them,” he said.
Anurag, son of two-term former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, further accused the Congress of coming to power in Himachal Pradesh through deception. “They are now revealing their oppressive mentality by filing FIRs against journalists who dare to report their lies,” he emphasised.
Drawing historical parallels, Anurag alleged that such contemptible behaviour was not new to the Congress, and that it dated back to the era of Nehru and Indira Gandhi. “Imprisoning journalists, intimidating them to suppress the truth and stifling free speech have long been part of the Congress’ ideology,” he asserted.
He said the Himachal Congress government was perpetuating the tradition by targeting journalists with legal action.
The BJP MP alleged that Chief Minister Sukhu was a frustrated leader who was directing his disappointment towards the media. “Today, the morale of state employees is at an all-time low and they are preparing to protest against the government,” he noted.
Anurag pointed out that it has been two years since the Congress party assumed power, yet it had allegedly failed to deliver on any promises or guarantees made to the public. “Sukhu is deflecting responsibility for his government’s incompetence by filing false FIRs against journalists, attempting to silence their voice,” he added.
