Mumbai: Taking serious note of negative news and reporting by mainstream media concerning its performance, Chief Secretary Sumit Mallik has written to all departments asking them to issue a clarification to the media house or houses concerned the day such reports are carried. Mr. Mallick’s directions make it clear that failing to prioritise clarifications would be considered an irregularity.
Sources said with two years left in the BJP-led State government’s tenure, all precautions are being taken to avoid negative impact on public discourse. The government completes three years on October 31. Political circles are rife with rumours of plans to hold the Assembly polls along with the general election. The BJP has already entered election mode for the Lok Sabha elections in early 2019, and the government’s attempt to keep public discourse in its favour is being seen as a political move.
In recent times, the government has faced severe criticism on social media for alleged scams and lack of action against tainted officers. They said news reports damaging to the government’s image are appearing in mainstream media as well. “Besides news stories, it has been observed that analytical pieces are appearing in newspapers. We need to present the government stand if contradictory claims appear in newspapers,” a senior government officer said.
