Abhishek Banerjee slams Bengal govt’s gag order, says BJP is 'choking fundamental rights'

NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee Thursday criticised the BJP-led West Bengal government for restricting the government employee from making media statements, participating in media debates, "sharing government documents or leaking sensitive information" related to the administration.Calling the state governemnt's circular an attempt to "enforce silence upon the employees" across Bengal, Banerjee said if government "cannot tolerate ciriticism, it starts crushing dissent".“Complete prohibition.” The phrase echoes through this circular like a WARNING - not to protect governance, but to ENFORCE SILENCE upon Govt employees across #Bengal. No speaking to the press. No writing articles. No participating in media programs. No criticism of the Centre or State government. No expression that may strain relations with Delhi," the Diamond Harbour MP said.He said the circular was meant to curtail express free expression by "systematically choking fundamental rights" to ensure absoulte obedience to the masters sitting in Delhi"."Under @BJP4India's remote-controlled governance, SILENCE IS NOW AN ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENT. This shocking circular is not about discipline, it is about CURTAILING FREE EXPRESSION and SYSTEMATICALLY CHOKING FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS to ensure absolute obedience to the masters sitting in Delhi. In short: THINK AS YOU ARE TOLD. SPEAK ONLY WHEN PERMITTED. When a government cannot tolerate criticism, it starts crushing dissent. That is not strength - that is STRANGULATION OF DEMOCRACY!" he further said.The notification, issued by the state’s Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department on Wednesday night and signed by chief secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal, said the restrictions are in line with provisions under the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, the West Bengal Service (Duties, Rights and Obligations of Government Employees) Rules, 1980, and the West Bengal Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1959.The order applies to IAS, WBCS and WBPS officers serving under the state government, along with employees of correctional services, state-aided educational institutions, boards, municipalities, municipal corporations and autonomous bodies under the state administration.Under the new directives, government employees have been barred from participating in or associating with privately produced media programmes or media events sponsored by the Centre without prior approval from the state government.The notification also prohibits any direct or indirect sharing of official documents or information with the media without government authorisation.Employees have further been restricted from editing or managing newspapers, periodicals or other publications, as well as from participating in radio broadcasts or writing articles and letters for newspapers or magazines without prior sanction.The order also bars government employees from making adverse remarks against policies or decisions of either the Centre or the state government through publications, speeches, broadcasts or media interactions.Additionally, employees have been prohibited from making any public statement or media contribution that could strain ties between the state government and the Centre, other state governments, or foreign governments.