AS THE CONTROVERSIAL amendment to the Kerala Police Act was creating headlines nationwide for all the wrong reasons, one of the most circulated memes showed Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan looking into a mirror and seeing Prime Minister Narendra Modi staring back at him. The meme was shared by thousands, including ardent left supporters. And, that was something unusual.
No wonder, the LDF government took a U-turn within 24 hours of it coming up with the ordinance that mandated a jail term for any offensive social media post. Explaining this turnaround, the chief minister said: “The amendment evoked varied responses from several corners. Apprehensions were aired even by those who support the LDF and profess to defend democracy. In these circumstances, the government will not go ahead with implementing the amendment.”
He, however, defended the legislation, saying that it was brought in to check “malicious campaigns” on social media. He added that the fate of the ordinance will be decided after hearing opinions from all quarters, including a “detailed discussion” in the assembly.
This story is from the December 06, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 06, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
What Will It Take To Clean Up Delhi Air?
IT IS ASKED, year after year, why Delhi’s air remains unbreathable despite several interventions to reduce pollution.
Trump and the crisis of liberalism
Although Donald Trump's election to a non-consecutive second term to the US presidency is not unprecedented—Grover Cleveland had done it in 1893—it is nevertheless a watershed moment.
Men eye the woman's purse
A couple of months ago, I chanced upon a young 20-something man at my gym walking out with a women’s sling bag.
When trees hold hands
A filmmaker explores the human-nature connect through the living root bridges
Ms Gee & Gen Z
The vibrant Anuja Chauhan and her daughter Nayantara on the generational gap in romance writing
Vikram Seth-a suitable man
Our golden boy of literature was the star attraction at the recent Shillong Literary Festival in mysterious Meghalaya.
Superman bites the dust
When my granddaughter Kim was about three, I often took her to play in a nearby park.
OLD MAN AND THE SEA
Meet G. Govinda Menon, the 102-year-old engineer who had a key role in surveying the Vizhinjam coast in the 1940s, assessing its potential for an international port
Managing volatility: smarter equity choices in uncertain markets
THE INDIAN STOCK MARKET has delivered a strong 11 per cent CAGR over the past decade, with positive returns for eight straight years.
Investing in actively managed low-volatility portfolios keeps risks at bay
AFTER A ROARING bull market over the past year, equity markets in the recent months have gone into a correction mode as FIIs go on a selling spree. Volatility has risen and investment returns are hurt.
