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Kerala govt U-turn on police act amendment, CM Vijayan says won’t implement new law now


Mangalore Today News Network

Kerala, Nov 23, 2020:    Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said the state government has decided to put on hold the implementation of the Kerala Police Act Amendment. This came after a political storm over the controversial amendment to the Police Act, which was signed by the Kerala Governor last week.

 


Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said the decision will now be taken after consultation with MLAs in the Kerala assembly. “Not intending to implement the amendment now,” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in a statement on Monday.

"With the announcement of the amendment, different views arose from different quarters. Concerns were expressed by those who supported the Left Democratic Front and those who stood for the protection of democracy,” the Kerala CM said in a statement.

“In this situation, it is not intended to amend the law. Detailed discussions in this regard will be held in the Assembly and further steps will be taken in this regard after hearing the views of all parties," Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan added.

Earlier in the day, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the Kerala Police Act Amendment ordinance will be "reconsidered".

"The ordinance will be reconsidered," Sitaram Yechury told PTI. When asked if "reconsidered" could mean toning down the ordinance, he indicated that it means the ordinance will be scrapped.
THE ACT

The Kerala Cabinet, last month, had decided to give more teeth to the Police Act by recommending the addition of Section 118-A. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Saturday signed the Kerala Police Act Amendment ordinance.

The section stipulates either imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to Rs 10,000 or both to those who produce, publish or disseminate content through any means of communication with an intention to intimidate, insult or defame any person through social media.

The Opposition had alleged that the new law would curtail freedom of expression.
THE CONTROVERSY

The announcement of the ordinance had put both the Left parties in a quandary as it was against the very principles that they stood for, the sources said.

The central leadership of the CPI(M), at odds with the decision, exerted pressure on the state leadership to let the ordinance lapse.

CPI general secretary D Raja said he was uncomfortable with the ordinance and the party had expressed its opinion on it to the state leadership.

"We have asked our state units to reconsider the ordinance. We have spoken to the CPI(M) leadership and we both concur that the ordinance cannot go forward," Raja had told PTI.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government, however, defended the move, saying that it is intended to reduce cyber crimes against women.

Amid concerns that it was a tacit move to silence critics and the media, CM Vijayan said the government has the responsibility to uphold the freedom of the press as well as that of the citizens. Seeking to allay fears, the Kerala CM maintained that the amendment would not hamper the freedom to criticise. "The Government will certainly consider all creative opinions and suggestions that are being aired with regard to this amendment," Vijayan had said in a Facebook post.


Courtesy:India Today


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