NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday came under criticism for his government’s circular threatening action against the media for any “defamatory news,” with the Congress and the BJP accusing him of being a “hypocrite”.
An official order issued by the Delhi government has directed the administration to bring in notice any “instances of defamatory imputations” against the chief minister or any city minister — either spoken, or intended to be read, or by signs or visible representation — so that further action can be initiated.
The Congress attacked chief minister Kejriwal, claiming that when his government is getting exposed by the media, he is issuing such circulars.
“When there is criticism of the government, when the wrongdoings of his government are exposed by the media, the chief minister is taking objection to that. This shows the anti-democratic attitude of the chief minister,” Congress leader P.C. Chacko said.
Voicing similar views, the BJP said while Mr Kejriwal talks about freedom of speech, he wants everyone else’s “throat to be throttled.” “He talks about unfettered freedom of speech, but he wants everybody else’s throat to be throttled. This is the height of hypocrisy,” BJP spokesperson G.V.L. Narasimha Rao said.
The Delhi government has asked all its officials to lodge a complaint with the principal secretary (home) if they come across any news item which damages the reputation of the chief minister or the AAP government, so that further action can be initiated.
According to the circular, issued by the directorate of information and publicity department, if any officer associated with the Delhi government feels that the published or aired news item damages his or the government’s reputation, he should file a complaint with the principal secretary (home).
Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Maken said it was “weird” that Mr Kejriwal is doing everything opposite of what he used to say before the Assembly elections.
Stressing that this was not happening for the first time, Mr Maken said, “As soon as his party came to power, he had stopped the media’s entry in the building (Secretariat). He should not have a problem with the media as his party came to power with their help.”
