India Withdraws Order to Punish Journalists Over ‘Fake News’
India Withdraws Order to Punish Journalists Over ‘Fake
News’
Critics say order was an attempt to curb media freedom in
the run-up to elections next year
By Anant Vijay Kala and Rajesh Roy April 3, 2018 10:02
a.m. ET
NEW DELHI—India withdrew plans on Tuesday to punish
journalists judged to be promoting “fake news” after widespread criticism that
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government was trying to muzzle the press.
New Delhi had issued an order late Monday that would have
allowed the suspension of government-issued press credentials for journalists
found to be reporting fake news. The order didn’t define fake news, but said
media regulators would be in charge of investigating any complaints.
The withdrawal of the order Tuesday came at the request
of Mr. Modi who decided any matters related to the media should first be
reviewed by the appropriate bodies such as the Press Council of India, said a
government official.
The council, a watchdog for the print media, is usually
headed by a retired Supreme Court judge and has more than two dozen other
members, including journalists and lawmakers.
Under the original order, those found guilty of reporting
fake news would have lost their accreditation for six months after the first
violation. If there were a second violation, the journalists would lose their
accreditation for a year and a third violation would mean they permanently lose
it.
Government press passes allow reporters access to
ministries and government news conferences.
Journalists and opposition politicians said the order was
an attempt to curb media freedom in the run-up to national elections next year.
Opposition party leaders say Mr. Modi’s administration is undermining
democratic institutions.
“This is a major offensive against the freedom of press,”
said Pradip Kumar Datta, a professor of politics at Jawaharlal Nehru University
in New Delhi.
Mr. Datta said any allegations of fake news should be
examined by independent bodies consisting of journalists, academics and members
of the judiciary who are politically independent. Failing to define fake news
also opened up the possibility of unfair probes and harassment, he said.
Some in Mr. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and his
supporters on social media said there is a need for more media control as some
journalists are unfair to and biased against Mr. Modi.
India has long been known for its boisterous free press.
Some media watchers worry that the national debate is getting doused by
increasingly aggressive nationalist and conservative voices, including from Mr.
Modi’s right-wing party. A growing number of attacks on journalists has some
observers concerned that liberal voices are getting silenced. Three journalists
have been killed in India so far this year, according to watchdog Reporters
Without Borders.
India fell three places to 136th position among 180
countries in last year’s World Press Freedom Index that the watchdog releases.
Self-censorship is growing in the country’s media, the watchdog said.
Gautam Lahiri, president of the Press Club of India, said
New Delhi is trying to create more tools to ensure journalists tow the
government’s line.
“In India, never has the government interfered to control
the media in this way,” he said.
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