The Opposition parties on Sunday came out strongly against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over an AAP Government’s circular threatening action against media for ‘defamatory news’. The BJP and the Congress accused Kejriwal of being a “hypocrite” and “anti-democratic”. The story related to the controversial circular of Kejriwal has appeared in The Pioneer in its Sunday edition.
Delhi BJP on Sunday dubbed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as a “dictatorial anarchist” while condemning his Government’s controversial circular threatening action against the media for any defamatory news. The Congress too lambasted Kejriwal and criticised the Delhi Government’s circular as that contained a veiled threat to free media.
Terming the circular as “draconian”, Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay said it was a “veiled threat” to the media to stop it from exposing misdeeds of the City Government. “BJP has always said that Arvind Kejriwal is dual-faced who has no faith in democracy, constitutional institutions, Freedom of speech and moral values. Kejriwal was always a dictatorial anarchist and after his 67-seat victory, his true colours are there before the people and media to see,” he said.
The Delhi BJP chief said the day he accused the media of playing the issue of a farmer committing suicide at an AAP rally for TRPs, it was clear that Kejriwal could “stoop to any level to save his neck.” “This draconian circular is a part of his anarchist ways to gag media and political opponents alike,” he said.
Upadhyay said that the Delhi BJP would launch an agitation against the circular on Monday which would continue till the AAP Government withdraws it. “We will also raise the matter before the lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung,” he added. The AAP-led Delhi Government has asked all its officials to lodge a complaint with Principal Secretary (Home) if they come across any news items which damage the reputation of the CM or the Government, so that further action could be initiated.
Criticising Kejriwal, Congress leader PC Chacko said the Delhi Chief Minister was being “exposed” on many issues and the AAP Government was not functioning as a Government from the very first day as internal dissensions marred its functioning. “The people in responsible positions should be patient enough to listen to criticism and also, it indicates that there is wrongdoing, corruption, lack of coordination in the Government,” he said.
According to the circular, if as per the opinion of the Director (Prosecution), an offence of defamation is made out, the Principal Secretary will refer the matter to the law Department for examining the matter and obtain the sanction of under section 199(4) of the CrPC. After sanction of the Government is obtained, the Home Department will forward the case to the public prosecutor for making a complaint under Section 199(2) of CrPC.