On Monday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that his government is putting on hold the controversial Kerala Police Amendment ordinance.
On Monday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that his government is putting on hold the controversial Kerala Police Amendment ordinance, which had triggered severe criticism of the state’s ruling CPI(M) government and allegations that it was a move aimed at “muzzling media.”
The Kerala CM, in a brief statement, said: “We have been forced to bring an ordinance in view of serious cyber attacks against women and children. Many suicides and break up took place due to this. In view of concern expressed from various quarters, we have decided not to go ahead with it.”
Earlier today, Sitaram Yechury, the general secretary of the CPI(M), which is in power in Kerala, had disowned the ordinance. Mr Yechury had remarked that it did not represent his party’s view. On Sunday, amid mounting criticism of the ordinance, chief minister Vijayan had defended it, saying that the ordinance was guided by “growing abuse on social media targeting individuals and their personal freedom.”
“The new amendment will no way be used against impartial journalism. Apprehensions to the contrary are unfounded. Within the contours of our Constitution and legal framework, everybody has the right to make the strongest criticism. The new amendment will not hamper that freedom in any way,” Mr Vijayan had said in a statement.
On Saturday, Governor Arif Mohammad Khan had approved the amendment.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
