Smriti Irani’s fake news fiasco
The information and broadcasting ministry, headed by Smriti Irani, last week released a circular which stated that the accreditation of a journalist could be cancelled if the news reported by him/ her was found to be “fake.” The notification, which did not define the phrase “fake news,” said complaints would be referred to the Press Council of India if they pertained to the print media and to the News Broadcasters Association ( NBA) if they related to the electronic media. The regulatory agencies would have 15 days to dispose off a complaint. During the period of probe, the journalist’s accreditation would be suspended, the note said.
But the ministry took a U- turn and withdrew the order under directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after outrage from the media and the Opposition.“The PM has directed that the press release regarding the fake news be withdrawn and the matter be addressed only by the Press Council of India,” a senior official in the PMO said.
The decision drew flak from both the Opposition and media.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the Uturn by the government was a sign of “panic” setting in. “Sensing mounting anger on the ‘ fake news’ notification, the PM orders a U- turn on his own order. One can clearly see a loss of control and panic setting in now,” he tweeted.
Minutes after the circular was released, it spread like wildfire on Twitter, with journalists lashing out at the Centre for the move. From calling it a media gag, to the order being called the “death of news”, several journalists expressed their disappointment and anger.
Irani also fell into a gaffe with the massive outlash after she retweeted Times Group’s Managing Director Vineet Jain tweet that fake news was “unacceptable”, and that the Editors Guild and NBA should define fake news.
Smriti Irani has been into a quagmire of controversies and her scuffles with media and press media are well known since the time she assumed office as HRD minister in 2014.
They know more about fake news than perhaps any leader in the world, than any government in the world. The Committee which they had made, included people who were known, I am sorry to say, with due respect, to be manufacturing news, not giving news to the people. - ANAND SHARMA, Congress leader