{"id":29154,"date":"2026-04-01T14:54:59","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T09:24:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/akalidalamritsar.in\/?p=29154"},"modified":"2026-04-02T15:47:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T10:17:47","slug":"press-statement-shiromani-akali-dal-amritsar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/akalidalamritsar.in\/?p=29154","title":{"rendered":"Press Statement Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Press Statement Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) Dated 01st April 2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subject: Strong Opposition to Proposed IT Rules Expanding Government Control Over Public Speech.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) expresses its unequivocal opposition to the proposed amendments to the Information Technology Rules seeking to extend government oversight over news-related content shared by individuals, social media users, and independent voices.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This proposal represents a dangerous expansion of executive authority into the domain of public discourse. By attempting to place individuals and independent communicators under regulatory frameworks designed for formal media institutions, the government is effectively positioning itself as the arbiter of permissible speech in a democratic society.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Threat to Freedom of Expression<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposed rules strike at the heart of the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India. Any framework that enables prior restraint, indirect censorship, or selective enforcement against citizens cannot be justified as regulatory reform.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A democracy cannot function where the citizen is treated as a subject whose speech must be monitored, filtered, and approved.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chilling Effect on Independent Voices<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The expansion of regulatory oversight to individuals and digital content creators will inevitably produce a chilling effect on speech. Independent journalists, researchers, and citizens\u2014who lack the legal and financial backing of large media organizations\u2014will be the first to withdraw from critical engagement.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not regulation; it is the gradual silencing of dissent.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concentration of Narrative Power<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such measures risk consolidating public discourse within a narrow band of approved narratives. In a diverse and plural society, the role of independent voices is essential in ensuring accountability, transparency, and the representation of marginalized perspectives.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any attempt to curtail this space undermines the very foundations of democratic debate.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selective Application and Majoritarian Risk<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an environment where dissenting political opinions and minority perspectives are already under scrutiny, the introduction of such expansive regulatory powers raises serious concerns regarding selective application.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

History shows that laws framed in the name of order are often used to suppress inconvenient truths and silence those who challenge dominant political narratives. This is particularly concerning for communities and groups that already experience disproportionate scrutiny and marginalization.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erosion of Democratic Norms<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A confident and mature democracy does not fear the speech of its citizens. It engages with it, contests it, and is held accountable by it. The move to regulate individual speech through executive mechanisms reflects a deep discomfort with open discourse.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not the path of a democratic republic, but of a state seeking to manage and control its citizens\u2019 voices.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demand<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) demands:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Immediate withdrawal of the proposed amendments<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. A transparent and consultative process involving civil society, legal experts, and independent media<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Clear safeguards ensuring that no regulatory mechanism can be used to curb lawful dissent or critical expression<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Conclusion<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    India\u2019s strength lies in its diversity of thought and the freedom of its people to express themselves without fear. Any attempt to curtail this freedom under the guise of regulation must be firmly resisted.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A free people do not require permission to speak.
    A democratic state does not supervise the conscience of its citizens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Benjamin Franklin, a Great American thinker has said those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety-deserve neither liberty nor safety.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Issued by:
    Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Press Statement Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) Dated 01st April 2026 Subject: Strong Opposition to Proposed IT Rules Expanding Government Control Over Public Speech. Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) expresses its unequivocal opposition to the proposed amendments to the Information Technology Rules seeking to extend government oversight over news-related content shared by individuals, social media users, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-press-statement"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/akalidalamritsar.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/akalidalamritsar.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/akalidalamritsar.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/akalidalamritsar.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/akalidalamritsar.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29154"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/akalidalamritsar.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29154\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29173,"href":"https:\/\/akalidalamritsar.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29154\/revisions\/29173"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/akalidalamritsar.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/akalidalamritsar.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/akalidalamritsar.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}