‘Fake News Order’ returned
Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered Smriti Irani to take her order back regarding ‘Fake news’ issue.
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani issued an order concerning ‘Fake News’ in the country that was eventually withdrawn after a few hours. Probably the government had come to understand the ‘danger’ of this release and the possible protest that may start from the journalist fraternity. The point of note is that three days before the order, the Siddaramaiah Government of Karnataka Congress had filed a case of ‘Fake News’ against a journalist who wrote about Jain Muni beaten by a Muslim. The BJP leaders came in support of this journalist. On the other hand, a senior BJP leader and Union Minister had decided to teach ‘lesson’ to journalists about the ‘Fake News’. On Monday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had said in the order that if a journalist writes or spreads fake news, it can be blacklisted.
The Press Council of India and News Broadcasters Association (NBA) will decide about this. These are both regulatory bodies of print and television media. It was also stated in the order that for the first time the publication or broadcast of Fake News when confirmed, the preference of the journalist for six months and for the second time, it will be suspended for one year. For the third time, the recognition on such a mistake will be canceled forever.
There was a lot of noise created after this order. Many journalists questioned him. Senior journalist Barkha Dutt wrote – “The ‘Trump’ atmosphere is in the air in India. This is the battle of Fake News, where the media is the enemy.” Senior journalist Shekhar Gupta tweeted – The government’s decision is an attack on the mainstream media. This is the same situation as Rajiv Gandhi’s anti-defamation bill. The entire media should oppose it by forgetting its differences. Another senior journalist, Swati Chaturvedi, reached directly to the Prime Minister’s office against the Fake News case. She wrote- “Respected Prime Minister, your Government sells fake news at the industrial level. Ban this policy of Smriti Irani which directly attacks the freedom of media.”
The strong reaction of the government’s order is also seen in Indian politics. The ruling Congress, which registered a case of journalist Fake News in Karnataka, called the central government’s order “an attack on the freedom of press” in Delhi. Party leader Tahsin Poonawar tweeted – “The decision to cancel the license of journalists accused of fake news is a bit annoying. This is a massive attack on the freedom of the press. ” Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala wrote: ” Modi government, which has been caught because of its many lies on the Internet, is now introducing misleading rules on free voices of media. ”
The prime minister asked Smriti Irani to withdraw the order immediately. After this incident, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said that the case of Fake News should be taken only in the Indian Press Council. On the other hand, Smriti also tweeted- “There is a debate about Fake News. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will be happy if we can all stand together against Fake News. Interested journalists can meet me.” Now the question is why did this order against Fake News be issued and why it had to be withdrawn after a few hours? It is true that with the growing influence of the social media and the prevalence of fraud or fake news is in trend. The purpose of Fake News is to launch a campaign to break the facts, to disturb the facts, to mislead the meaning, to reach the people with full power, and defame the targeted person or institution. Since people believe in any news without going to the depths, the real purpose of Fake News is to misguide people. But since social media is a chaotic forum of information, its use or misuse is being made for the desired political goals. No political party or social-cultural organization is behind this work. It is right to curb Fake News from this point of view. So the order that was issued was also having this unfinished intention?
Was it a curb on Fake News or was it a legal cover to tell that a news can be faked? The doubt is about its intention. Many people were watching it as an attempt to suppress the real news under the guise of Fake News. The direct defense of the sentence which was foiled for the crime of Fake News was to eliminate the journalist’s right. Because it is like taking both hands of Thakur by Gabbar Singh to snatch his preference from any valid journalist. And how can the government identify a news is really fake or not? Because the government itself keeps doing this work in a hidden manner through journalists. So in the business of ‘Fake News’, all are equal partners. In such a way, why a sword should hang on the head of journalists only?
If Fake News is a serious crime then why should those leaders be forgiven who keep making the fool of people by it? They have no accountability. Here the aim is not to achieve an explanation between ‘fake’ and ‘liers’, but it is the indivisible truth of Indian democracy. To ban ‘Fake News’, it is important to eliminate the social-political plaque, not only grabbing the neck of the journalists which creates suspicion. It will be great if the Prime Minister’s Office has understood the true angle of Fake News.
