TRS Govt does not believe in Freedom of Expression: Congress

Hyderabad : Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Chief Spokesperson Dr. Dasoju Sravan has strongly condemned the decision of TRS Government to empower local police in registering cases under Sections 506 and 507 against those who criticise the government. 

Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Saturday, Sravan said that the TRS Government has been trying to supersede the Constitution by taking away the fundamental rights granted to the people. He said that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao was no authority to permit the police to book cases against those who level allegations against his government. He said in case the government intends to make any changes in law, then he must do it through Assembly. He alleged that the Chief Minister wants to encroach upon the jurisdiction of courts by himself acting as the judge. He said the decision was prone to misuse by the party in power and those who criticise the government could be harassed using police force in the name of investigation. He said that the decision was a direct attack on people's Freedom of Expression guaranteed by the Constitution. 

Sravan pointed out that the KCR Government has removed Dharna Chowk and stopped giving permission for any kind of protest thus preventing people from expressing the problems being faced by them. He alleged that KCR does not believe in democracy which permits every citizen to express his/her opinion without any fear. 

Sravan said that the decision of TRS Government was totally unconstitutional. He said KCR has been trying to influence upon the mainstream media from reporting the truth. The new decision on IPC 506 and 507 is now aimed at suppressing people's voice on social media. He said a bus conductor, Sanjeev, was removed from service for his post against government on Facebook. 

He pointed out that a similar law was scrapped by the Delhi High Court in the past. In 2004 Narender Kumar Vs State of Delhi, the Delhi High Court has directed the State Government to withdraw any provisions of converting Indian Penal Code 506 into Cognizable Offence violating the spirit of Constitutions. Similarly, in 2014, in Shreya Singhal Vs Govt of India case, the Supreme Court has described 66 A of IT Act as a draconian law and said it was against the spirit of Freedom of Expression. The government was also directed to remove the Sections 66 A from the IT Act. "When such very clear court orders are in place, how dare that KCR attempts to dictatorial alter the IPC enabling the police to harass and punish people who express their views on social media," he said. 

Sravan said KCR himself, his son and minister K. Tarakarama Rao and other TRS leaders were on top in using abusive and unparliamentary language. He asked whether they were ready to face cases for their objectionable remarks. 

The Congress leader demanded that the State Government immediately withdraw its decision. Else, he threatened that the Congress party would approach the court against it. He said a campaign will be run on social media against the TRS Government's unconstitutional decision. 

He said if TRS Government wants to do something good for the people then it should take action against people like film maker Ram Gopal Varma who are misusing women as a object of sex to promote their films.