Accusing the Punjab government of a “planned attack on media freedom and democratic dissent”, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj on Friday alleged that the action was carried out at the direction of AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal. She claimed the AAP government in Punjab had “misused state machinery” to target the Punjab Kesari Group.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Swaraj said “critical reporting against Arvind Kejriwal” had prompted the move against the media group. Drawing parallels with the Emergency period, she termed the action an example of a “dictatorial mindset” and said it reflected the AAP’s “habit of evading questions that expose its poor governance”.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
According to Swaraj, an article published on October 31, 2025, which was critical of the government, became the trigger for what she described as a “well-planned attack”. “The Aam Aadmi Party cannot face criticism or answer questions, but moves swiftly to silence the media,” she alleged.
“This politics of repression is not new and follows a clear and consistent pattern. It mirrors the attacks on the media witnessed during the Congress-led Emergency,” Swaraj said.
