AAP declined to comment on the apex court order putting a stay on a Delhi government circular on filing of defamation cases against media organisations for any news item that causes damage to its reputation. Asked about the government’s reaction, a Delhi Government spokesperson said it’s a Supreme Court order and “we don’t want to comment on it“.
Congress says diktat was unconstitutional
Describing it as a victory of democracy, BJP and Congress welcomed the Supreme Court’s stay.
DPCC Chief Ajay Maken said Kejriwal government had not only targeted the media but also tried to throttle the voices of its political adversaries through the circular on filing of defamation cases against the media for any news that causes ‘damage’ to its reputation or that of Chief Minister and other ministers.
“It was against the basic principle of freedom of expression. What Arvind Kejriwal wanted was to not only gag the media but also the common man and leaders of political parties. The circular was totally unconstitutional and we welcome the Supreme Court order,” the Congress leader said. Both Congress and BJP had attacked the AAP government for issuing the circular earlier this month that called for filing of criminal defamation cases against the media.
The Delhi BJP also hailed the Supreme Court order, calling it a victory of democratic rights. Suspended AAP leader Prashant Bhushan said the court had noted that it was the height of hypocrisy. — PTI
