Kerala Communist Government Withdraws Controversial Move To Promulgate Police Act Ordinance

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala has decided to withdraw, for now, its proposal to pass an ordinance amending the Police Act, 2011.

Kerala Police Act, 2011, has been amended by the Vijayan government “to prevent cyber attacks on women and children” by adding a clause Section 118-A.

The Pinarayi Vijayan Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) Government will decide on the ordinance after discussion in the State Assembly and receiving feedback from various sections.

The development comes on the heels of protests against the planned ordinance, which received State governor Arif Mohammad Khan’s approval during the weekend.

It also comes when a batch of writs have been filed against it, including by Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party president K Surendran after CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said his party would review the amendment.

In a statement, the Kerala Chief Minister said that his governement had decided to bring in the ordinance in view of widespread abuse of social media.

Various sections of society including women and transgenders were being attacked through social media with defamatory and obscene campaigns, he said.

The statement follows Vijayan telling the media yesterday that the ordinance would not be used to curtail freedom of speech or against impartial media.

Also Read: Kerala Governor Clears Amendments To Police Act Initiated By State’s Communist Government; Experts Say It May Be Used Against Critics