On National Press Day, <em> Rajasthan Patrika</em> Leaves Editorial Blank To Protest Government’s Shield-And-Gag Ordinance

Rajasthan Patrika, a leading Hindi newspaper in the state, on Thursday — also National Press Day -- left its editorial column blank to register its strong protest against the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government’s controversial shield-and-gag ordinance

The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, tabled for approval of the state assembly last month shields public servants and politicians from prosecution without prior approval and prevented the media from identifying accused till the government granted nod for prosecution.

On November 1, terming the ordinance as "black law", Rajasthan Patrika had decided to boycott the chief minister until she revoked it.

On Thursday, the newspaper headquartered in Jaipur, left the editorial blank marked by a thick black border on the front page.

Protesting against the powers given to the authorities to gag the media, editor-in-chief of the daily Gulab Kothari wrote in the blank editorial's headline that the “black law” had put journalism in danger. “With this, we oppose the law which has murdered democracy,” he stated.

In a scathing editorial, Kothari had written November 1: “Accepting the advice of our editorial board, the board of directors have decided that till the chief minister Vasundhara Raje doesn’t take back this black law, Rajasthan Patrika will not publish her and the related news. This is a question of democracy, of expression, of the people’s opinion of pride.”

The ordinance, which provides 180 days immunity to the officers, reads: "No magistrate shall order an investigation nor will any investigation be conducted against a person, who is or was a judge or a magistrate or a public servant."