Rahul Gandhi said, “Sensing mounting anger on the “fake news” notification, the PM orders a U-Turn on his own order.
The fake news guidelines by the Modi government is an attempt to curb press freedom, alleged opposition on Tuesday. Almost all the opposition leaders in unison slammed the government over fake news guidelines that proposed the suspension of accreditation of journalists for creating and spreading fake news.
On Monday, the Ministry of Information and broadcasting created quite a stir by issuing the guidelines to tackle the Fake News menace. It charged the Press Council of India and News Broadcasters Association with regulating the cases related to the fake news complaints. However, the guidelines were only meant for accredited journalists and kept social media out of its ambit.
The guidelines triggered widespread outrage among the journalist fraternity. Following the outrage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered the I&B Ministry to withdraw its order. The opposition, however, took the chance to attack the Modi government.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted, that the government’s U-turn proves that panic is setting in the government. He said, “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. #BasEkAurSaal”.
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. #BasEkAurSaal
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 3, 2018
On the other hand, West Bengal CM and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee took a dig at BJP asking what about the fake news spread by one particular political party on a regular basis? She further added, “It is a brazen attempt to curb press freedom, a sure sign that the government has lost its way.”
The PIB circular on #FakeNews control is a brazen attempt to curb press freedom, a sure sign that the Govt has lost its way. We demand the immediate withdrawal of such a draconian move. And
what about #FakeNews spread by a political party on a regular basis ?— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 3, 2018
CPM leader Sitaram Yechury too slammed the Modi government calling it a “duplicitous move of the Modi government wherein the garb of fake news, it will attack all the news it finds uncomfortable”. His party colleague and MP Mohammad Salim equated the decision with emergency days.
We fought for Press freedom during the Emergency, then against the Defamation Bill. We condemn this duplicitous move of Modi govt where in the garb of Fake News, it will attack all the news it finds uncomfortable. We stand for, and are committed to a free and independent Press. pic.twitter.com/0pHAwuiYC5
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) April 3, 2018
Congress’ communication chief Randeep Surjewala called the Modi government ‘fascist’ trying to curb independent voices with ‘fallacious rules’. In a tweet, he said, “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! Will the 13 Union Ministers answer for the lame duck portal tarnishing mainstream media?”
Fascism reaches its ‘nadir’ as a shaky Modi Govt, caught in its web of lies, seeks to muzzle all independent voices in media through fallacious rules!
Will the 13 Union Ministers answer for the lame duck portal tarnishing mainstream media?#FakeNewshttps://t.co/td6GbYFeXQ
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) April 3, 2018
Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma charged that PM Modi and RSS are themselves beneficiaries of fake news. He said, “The government wants only the perspective of BJP and RSS to reach to people.” He further alleged that the BJP itself runs an “industry” that creates and propagates fake news.
Meanwhile, I&B Minister Smriti Irani tweeted and said that if journalists association or organizations have any suggestions about the guidelines, they are welcomed to reach out to her at the MIB office.
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