Jagdeep Singh, a journalist with a vernacular daily, can never forget the Republic Day of 2007-the day he made news.

It was on this day when Jadgdeep had almost lost his job on the orders of Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, the media advisor of the then chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh. Jagdeep had posed a question to the CM during a press conference held at Majestic Park Plaza Hotel that annoyed Chahal, who called up the owners of the newspaper for which Jagdeep worked.

And Chahal did this while the conference was still on. By the time the conference ended, Jagdeep had been told by his owners that he was no more working for their newspaper. When other mediapersons came to know about this development, they showed their solidarity and support for Jagdeep. All the journalists started raising slogans against Chahal and the state government for the dictatorial behaviour of Chahal which amounted to gagging the press. While this had just started, the CM, while leaving the spot, reportedly directed Chahal to tender an apology to the media and sort out the matter.

Finally bowing before the media unity and in order to save the Congress government from embarrassment ahead of assembly elections, Chahal had to apologise to Jagdeep and his job was restored. Recalling the day, Jagdeep says, “I think it was not my victory alone but was the victory of the unity of all the media and freedom of speech and expression.”