Rajasthan: Hindi Daily Patrika demands revocation of Raje’s order

Jaipur: Rajasthan’s CM Vasundhara Raje recently issued ordinance shielding Judges and the public servants restricting media is caught in controversy since its declaration.
Rajasthan Patrika – a leading Hindi daily in the state, opposing the ordinance on Thursday made it to the editorial column, highlighting it in black border said: “Aaj Rashtriya Press Diwas yani swatantra aur uttardayipurn patrakarita ka din hai. Lekin Rajasthan mein rajya sarkar dwara banaye kale kanoon se yeh khatre mein hai. Sampadkiya khali chhorkar hum loktantra ke hatyare ‘kale kanoon’ ka poorn manoyog se virodh karte hain (Today is National Press Day, a day for free and responsible journalism. But in Rajasthan, this is in danger due to the black law made by the state government. We oppose this black law by leaving the editorial space blank).”
The Rajasthan’s High Court reacting to the ordinance described it as ‘undemocratic’ and directed the government to give an undertaking that it would not implement the ordinance until it files reply petitions challenging the ordinance and posted the case for hearing on 22 November.
So far nine petitions have been filed against the recent controversial order from the Rajasthan’s government.
The ordinance is making news since it protects the judges and public servants, both serving and retired, from being probed.
It also makes sanctioning of state governments mandatory before the probe is ordered along with serving jail terms up to two years for media personnel publishing or broadcasting the cases.
Patrika has been demanding the revocation of the Ordinance by the Government.
Following the widespread protests against the ordinance, the Raje government had sent the ordinance to a selected committee of the assembly for replacement.
Earlier, Patrika has published a front-page editorial titled ‘Jab Tak Kala: Tab Tak Tala’ clearly stating its demand of ordinance revocation.
The ordinance was sent in cold storage bill which has a life of six weeks after its tabling in the assembly or else it will automatically lapse on December 4.