Agartala, September 16: Alleged restrictions on media outlets in Tripura have come under scrutiny from Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury, who said the press must be free to report public grievances and question the functioning of the government.
Chaudhury referred to reports of YouTube channels, Facebook pages and cable networks being suspended or disconnected in recent days and alleged that such action was being taken against outlets critical of the government.
He said media organisations had a responsibility to highlight issues affecting ordinary people rather than simply support those in power. Calling the press the “fourth pillar of democracy”, he stressed the importance of maintaining its independence.
According to Chaudhury, reports concerning damaged roads, irregular electricity supply and shortages of essential ration commodities such as rice, pulses and sugar had drawn pressure on some media outlets.
He also raised employment-related issues, alleging that recruitment notifications had been issued repeatedly without appointments and that appointment letters remained pending after TET and TRBT examinations.
The Opposition leader said alleged disconnections of cable channels were a matter of concern because they could limit the reach of media organisations and their ability to communicate information to the public.
Chaudhury further alleged that newspapers were facing pressure through the withholding of government advertisements. He said the media should neither act as an extension of the government nor function as an Opposition platform, but should present facts and issues in the public interest.
Linking the issue to governance, Chaudhury also questioned the implementation of the state government’s stated “zero tolerance” policy on corruption.
He alleged that irregularities continued in departments including PWD, Health and Police, and claimed that such alleged practices extended across various levels of the administrative system.
Chaudhury said the allegations raised broader questions about accountability, governance and public confidence in government institutions.
His remarks have added to the political debate in Tripura over alleged pressure on media organisations, the role of the press and the government’s accountability on issues affecting the public.
