Amid Mounting Criticism, Kerala Govt To Hold Discussion In Assembly After Taking Back The Controversial Police Amendment

This comes after the controversial Kerala Police Amendment ordinance, had triggered a nationwide criticism of the state’s ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) government and alleged that it was a move aimed at “muzzling media.”

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan. (File Photo/ Getty)

“Kerala govt plans to hold detailed discussions in assembly on police act amendment, hear opinions from various quarters,” Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced on Monday. This comes after the controversial Kerala Police Amendment ordinance, had triggered a nationwide criticism of the state’s ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) government and alleged that it was a move aimed at “muzzling media.”

Kerala Government takes back the bill

According to CM Vijayan, with the concerns expressed from various quarters, the government has decided to hold the amendment bill which will help in bringing down cyber-attacks against women and children. “We have been forced to bring an ordinance in view of serious cyber-attacks against women and children. Many suicides and break up took place due to this. In view of the concern expressed from various quarters, we have decided not to go ahead with it,” Vijayan further added.

Sitaram Yechury claims the amendment does not represent the party’s ideology

Not only the bill is facing backlashes from different parties but from his own party. General secretary of CPI(M) Sitaram Yechury, disowned the ordinance citing that the bill does not represent the party’s ideology. With mounting criticism from outside and inside the party, Vijayan on Sunday backed the ordinance claiming the ordinance was guided by “growing abuse on social media targeting individuals and their personal freedom.” “The new amendment will no way be used against impartial journalism. Apprehensions to the contrary are unfounded,” he had said in a statement. “Within the contours of our Constitution and legal framework, everybody has the right to make the strongest criticism. The new amendment will not hamper that freedom in any way,” the statement had noted further. Meanwhile, Congress leader and former union minister P Chidambaram took to Twitter to criticize the bill on Saturday, stating the bill “shocked” him. "Shocked by the law made by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government of Kerala making a so-called 'offensive' post on social media punishable by 5 years in prison," his tweet quoted.

What’s in the amendment?

According to the Kerala Police Amendment, anyone who creates or sends any information that is termed “offensive” or intended to “threaten” anyone through any means of communication including social media is liable to face a jail term of three years or a fine of Rs 10000 or both. The bill turned amendment which the signed by the Governor of state Arif Mohammad on Saturday, police can without any permission or notice can arrest anyone and can register a case against the accused under the defamation law.