The Editors Guild of India has expressed its disappointment over the circular issued by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi urging the public officials to lodge complaints against ‘defamatory’ news items with the Principal Secretary of the Home Ministry.
The Guild said that it was shocked by the circular asking public officials to report defamatory imputations relating to the Chief Minister, ministers and public officials and called for its withdrawal.
The Guild reportedly said that it was strange that a Chief Minister and a party that rode to power on a popular democratic platform should turn intolerant when in office.
The statement issued by the Guild said that the defamation should be decriminalised and treated as a purely civil wrong.
Earlier on Saturday, Kejriwal had urged officials working with the Delhi Government to lodge complaints against ‘defamatory’ news items which ‘damage the reputation’ of the government with the Principal Secretary of the Home Ministry. (ANI)