CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 — The Shiromani Akali Dal has accused the Punjab government of muzzling the press and violating the fundamental rights of Bikram Singh Majithia during his incarceration at Nabha jail. During a meeting with Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, party leaders alleged that the administration is conducting a “witch-hunt” against both political opponents and independent media houses.
The party noted that the surveillance measures inside the jail have become increasingly invasive, including attempts to record the leader in private areas. SAD leaders mentioned that such actions appear designed to record Majithia without his turban or clothing, which they termed a gross violation of privacy.
“The government is doing nothing concrete to safeguard Majithia despite clear intelligence about a possible attack,” the party mentioned in its statement.
The delegation also raised the issue of the Punjab Kesari newspaper group, claiming the state has withdrawn government advertisements and conducted raids at printing presses in Jalandhar. They noted that these actions began following critical reporting on the Aam Aadmi Party’s national leadership in late 2025.
While the Punjab government has rejected these claims in an official statement, SAD leaders maintained that democratic values are under threat. They directly said that the Governor must protect press freedom and ensure that jail protocols are not used for political vendettas.
The representation further noted that Majithia has already informed the Chief Judicial Magistrate regarding the danger to his life after the jail superintendent failed to address his concerns.
Read more: Chargesheet Filed Against SAD’s Bikram Majithia in Corruption Case
