New Delhi: After widespread criticism of new rules issued by the government yesterday to check fake news, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) today directed the information and broadcasting ministry to withdraw its press statement about the new rules. The ministry duly withdrew them.
The PMO further said issues to do with fake news should only be addressed in and by the Press Council of India (PCI), the regulatory body for print journalism.
The PMO’s directive came minutes after I&B minister Smriti Irani tweeted saying her ministry is “is more than happy to engage with” journalists who want to check fake news.
The government yesterday said the accreditation of a journalist could be permanently cancelled if the scribe is found generating or propagating fake news. As per amended guidelines for journalists’ accreditation, if the publication or telecast of fake news is confirmed, the accreditation of the journalist responsible for it would be suspended for six months in the first violation and for one year in case of a second violation.