Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has signed the controversial Kerala Police Act amendment ordinance, which the government claimed was intended to prevent cyber attacks against women and children but criticised for curbing freedom of expression. Various organisations including the CPI, a member of the ruling LDF government, had opposed the amendment that covers mass media also.
Amidst the increasing criticism, the Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan said the state had a duty to protect individuals’ liberty and dignity, but that no action would be taken against the media or critics who stay “within the limits of the Constitution”.
“The new amendment will in no way be used against free speech or impartial journalism. Apprehensions to the contrary are unfounded,” the Chief Minister’s Office said.
“Along with ensuring freedom of press, the Government also has the responsibility of upholding a citizen’s individual freedom and his/her dignity, as enshrined in the Constitution. The popular idea that one’s freedom ends where the other’s nose begins needs to be respected. However, there have been instances of this idea being repeatedly violated,” the CMO statement added.
The opposition was swift to express its concern, with the Congress’s Shashi Tharoor, the MP from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram, called it “troubling” and pointing out that the ordinance was “so loosely drafted it could also be used against political opponents”.
“This law can and will be challenged in the courts, because any political attack on social media against a party or “class of persons” (eg ‘sanghis’ or ‘libtards’) could attract its provisions. It must be revised to narrow its application to flagrant cases of abuse and threats only,” he said.
Union Minister V Muraleedharan hit out at the “draconian” ordinance and said it threatened freedom of speech. In his tweet the minister from Kerala said the ordinance was a sign of the Pinarayi Vijayan government “loosing confidence”.
