Centre withdraws fake news guidelines after outcry
The I&B Ministry had issued a revision to their guidelines as a means to discourage fake news.
Faced with massive outrage, the Modi government on Tuesday beat a hasty retreat and withdrew its controversial guidelines threatening journalists with penalties for reporting "fake news".
Within hours of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry announcing punitive measures such as cancellation of accreditation to control "fake news", Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered its withdrawal. PMO officials said they believed that any decision on fake news should be taken by the Press Council of India and News Broadcasters Association.
"PIB Press Release regarding Fake News uploaded last evening stands withdrawn," a terse official statement said on Tuesday.
On Monday night, the I&B Ministry had announced revision of its guidelines for accreditation of journalists. It had provisions to suspend the accreditation of a journalist found to be running fake news.
Media associations and Opposition parties described the fresh guidelines as an attack on freedom of the press.
"The Editors Guild acknowledges the intervention of the Prime Minister's Office to withdraw the I&B Ministry's notification but remains deeply disturbed that faith continues to be reposed on the Press Council of India to deliver justice on such issues," read a statement issued by the Editors' Guild of India.
It added that the recent reconstitution of the Press Council of India had been done in a manner that gave rise to doubts over the independence of the institution and its ability to play neutral umpire.
Oppn taunts
"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," Congress President Rahul Gandhi said.
West Bengal Chief Minister 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".
CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury recalled the fight for press freedom during Emergency and said his party condemned the duplicitous move.