Controversy over ‘gag order’ on media

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday took a swipe at Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje over a controversial ordinance, pointing out that the year was “2017, not 1817”.

“Madam Chief Minister, with all humility we are in the 21st century. It’s 2017, not 1817,” Mr. Gandhi tweeted.

He also tagged a news report headlined “Rajasthan ordinance is against free speech, say legal experts”. The report said the ordinance restricted the media and prohibited an investigation against judicial officers and public servants without prior sanction.

It said that under the proposed law, the media cannot report on accusations against magistrates and others until the prosecution gets the go-ahead from the sanctioning authority.

The State government said in a release on Saturday night that there was no provision in the ordinance to protect corrupt officials.