Maharashtra assembly has passed a special law that aims to protect journalists from violence. While prima facie it might look okay, there are some serious issues with the idea, as we had explained in this article earlier.
In a nutshell, every citizen of India should be protected from violence without making special laws for a group that increasingly appear privileged (not accountable to anyone) than vulnerable. Further, there are also certain tricky provisions like jail up to three years if one “provokes” or “instigates” someone to indulge in violence, which doesn’t look good given track record of how speech laws are used to curb criticism in India.
Understandably this law irked many people on Twitter, including those who would normally support BJP and thus Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Here are some reactions we managed to compile:
Maharashtra okays violence against non-media people and institutions: https://t.co/0HXEY9gHyJ | Idiots…
— Jaideep A. Prabhu (@orsoraggiante) April 8, 2017
When Doctors got beaten up, MH CM Fadnavis didn’t bring special law to protect them. But he added law to protect Journos. Aisi meherbani kyu
— गीतिका (@ggiittiikkaa) April 8, 2017
Bhai @dev_fadnavis, citizens need protection from patrakars. You are going in opposite direction. https://t.co/8KHe2j2NQN
— iMac_too (@iMac_too) April 7, 2017
If @Dev_Fadnavis will have his way-he will abolish IPC & bring in personal protection laws for every community- caste- religion- professions
— Alok Bhatt (@alok_bhatt) April 8, 2017
@Dev_Fadnavis believes journalists are more.important to secure him political victories than doctors who just save lives of aam aadmi. https://t.co/ruep2UDZmI
— Caustic Indian (@causticdesi) April 8, 2017
Remember the time when Fadnavis had hilariously threatened to sue some journo for false reporting & then did nothing?
??— FoolishOfficer (@IndiaSpeaksPR) April 8, 2017
Can @Dev_Fadnavis himself be booked under the law he has recently passed to protect journalists? Wondering pic.twitter.com/L0DOu9LODt
— Nupur (@UnSubtleDesi) April 8, 2017
Disappointed that Shiv Sena allowed this bill to be passed ? https://t.co/GLCFbdiL2g
— Rahul Roushan (@rahulroushan) April 8, 2017
Poonam Journo enters cantonment in MH and allegedly abets suicide, but our CM @Dev_Fadnavis passes law to protect media scums. PM material??
— आशुतोष? (@muglikar_) April 8, 2017
Well on the flipside, since the arrival of the new journo protection bill, journos are the new Cows and Fadnu Uncle is the #JouRakshak
— बोधिसत्त्व (@Bodhisatvaa) April 8, 2017
@ShefVaidya Probably BJP the only party jo danda kha kar bhi journos ko salaam thokti hai. Leaders give bytes to NDTV, Fadnavis brings new law. Heights!
— Pranay Tiwari (@pranayom) April 8, 2017
@UnSubtleDesi @Dev_Fadnavis Judges protection or Journalist protection act r violative of Article 14,16 of Consti. Special
Laws for a class contrary to uniform code.— Prashant Patel Umrao (@ippatel) April 8, 2017
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