After PM directive, I&B Min withdraws fake news order

After it was widely attacked as a brazen attempt to curb freedom of the press in an election year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday cancelled an order that sought to punish journalists for fake news. The order was issued late Monday night by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, which is headed by Smriti Irani. After top editors and opposition parties accused the government of trying to muzzle the media, Irani tweeted Tuesday morning that she was open to suggestions on how to modify the order and tackle fake news. It wasn’t enough. Around 10 minutes later, the Prime Minister’s Office said the controversial order was withdrawn.

The Prime Minister’s Office also said the question of checking fake news should be left to media watchdog Press Council of India.

Amending the guidelines for accreditation of journalists, the ministry announced norms to contain fake news which said if the publication or telecast of fake news was confirmed, accreditation of the journalist would be suspended for six months in case of first violation and one year in case of a second violation.

In case of a third violation, his or her accreditation would be cancelled permanently.

The Congress said fascism had touched its peak as it sought to “muzzle” independent voices through “fallacious” rules. The AAP and CPI-M likened the situation to the ‘emergency’.

“The government has no mandate to control the press. The Press Council is the right platform to deal with complaints regarding any fake news,” president of the Press Club of India Gautam Lahiri said.

The I&B ministry norms had also said any complaint of instances of fake news would be referred to the Press Council of India (PCI), if it pertains to print media, and to the News Broadcasters Association (NBA), if it relates to the electronic media, for determination of the news item being fake or not.

“Fascism reaches its ‘nadir’ as a shaky Modi Government, caught in its web of lies, seeks to muzzle all independent voices in media through fallacious rules!,” Congress communications incharge Randeep Surjewala tweeted.

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel also questioned the government’s attempt to check fake news asking whether it is an attempt to prevent reporters from reporting news uncomfortable to the establishment.

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee termed the attempt as a brazen and draconian move to curb press freedom and said it showed the government “has lost its way”.

“What about fake news spread by a political party on a regular basis?” she asked on Twitter without naming any party.

Recalling the fight for press freedom during the days of the Emergency in the 1970s, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said his party condemned the duplicitous move.

» The order sought to punish journalists for fake news including suspension and cancellation of accreditation » The PMO also said the question of checking fake news should be left to media watchdog Press Council of India