Rajasthan Patrika to boycott Vasundhara Raje until controversial 'media gag' ordinance is revoked

The controversy around the Rajasthan government ordinance to protect bureaucrats and judges from being scrutinised for any on-duty action is far from over. While journalists and Opposition leaders have criticised the law as ‘draconian’, the latest to join in is Rajasthan Patrika editor-in-chief Gulab Kothari, who condemned the “Hitlershahi” (Hitler-like attitude) of the Vasundhara Raje government and compared the controversial bill to the Emergency. [caption id=“attachment_4190323” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Gulab Kothari. Screengrab from Rajasthan Patrika’s YouTube channel[/caption] The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 amends the Criminal Code of Procedure, 1973 and bars the media from naming the public servant under scrutiny till the Rajasthan government allows the case to be investigated. In an editorial published in the prominent regional daily, Kothari said the law was clearly aimed at gagging the press. He said the move seemed to be aimed at stifling publications that were undertaking efforts to expose corrupt officials and politicians. Kothari pledged his newspaper would boycott Raje and would not print anything relating to the chief minister, until she takes back the “black law.” Revisiting 24 October Assembly proceedings in a strongly-worded editorial, Kothari claimed that the government was merely pretending to have put the ordinance on the back burner. “The government pretended to put the ordinance on back burner but it has merely been drugged into slumber. It will start kicking its targets as soon as it wakes up,” Kothari wrote. He said the ordinance has been referred to a committee only on paper and it was still in effect in letter and spirit. Terming the move an eyewash, he dared journalists to test his argument by printing any corrupt officer’s name. “You would find yourself in jail for at least two years,” Kothari claimed. He said that the editorial team was undaunted by the government’s dictatorial rule. He said that there was still a year before election and a lot could change. He ended by stating that the people would support the newspaper in its fight to protect the glory of democracy and the freedom of speech. The matter is listed in the Rajasthan High Court as senior lawyer AK Jain  filed a petition  questioning the legality of the ordinance, which he said “will be a license for criminals.” Congress leader Sachin Pilot  also moved the court, calling the ordinance illegal and unconstitutional, and demanding its withdrawal.