The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress on Sunday launched a blistering attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his diktat on the media and said that he was trying to strangle democracy.
Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi is trying to strangle democracy.
“By issuing this circular they are trying to strangle democracy. It hints that something is fishy,” ANI quoted him as saying.
Another BJP leader and party spokesperson Nalin Kohli said, “At one end, he himself appeals against a defamation case against himself and goes to the Supreme Court and says Section 499-500 should be decriminalized. On the other hand, his own government is saying take criminal actions against everyone who criticizes the government.”
“It only confirms that Kejriwal has this dictatorial attitude that he will not like anyone to speak against him. He believes he has the right that he can criticize anyone no matter how unsubstantiated his allegations are,” he added
Echoing similar sentiments, Congress leader Ajay Maken said it seems that Kejriwal is frightened of the media now.
“It is unfortunate that such a circular has been brought out against the media. This is an attack not only on the media, but the entire democracy,” he added.
Senior journalist NK Singh on his part said that Kejriwal was acting against the democracy by threatening to take action against the media if any defamatory news was reported against his government.
“You should understand what defamation is and what media’s role in a democracy is. The day you understand these things, that is the time you start doing you work. You have been chosen to do your work not to threaten media,” he said in Noida.
The Directorate of Information recently issued a circular asking the Delhi Government officials to complaint if they feel a news item is defaming the reputation of the Chief Minister, ministers or the government.
ANI