'Guidelines for accreditation of journalists to regulate fake news stands withdrawn': PMO rolls back order right after Smriti Irani tweets

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Tuesday directed that the press release regarding fake news be withdrawn and said the matter should only be addressed in Press Council of India, according to media reports.

The Press Information Bureau later released a statement on their official website which said, "PIB Press release titled “GUIDELINES FOR ACCREDITATION OF JOURNALISTS AMENDED TO REGULATE FAKE NEWS” issued on 02 April 2018 STANDS WITHDRAWN."

Cartoon by Manjul.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is likely to withdraw its press release on fake news after the PMO's directive, sources told PTI. According to the PMO, any decision on fake news should be taken by bodies like the Press Council of India and the News Broadcasters Association, official sources said.

File image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reuters

The PMO's directive comes minutes after I&B Minister Smriti Irani tweeted to defend her ministry's move.

In an unprecedented move on Monday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting came out with stringent measures to deal with fake news. It said that the accreditation of a journalist could be permanently cancelled if the scribe is found generating or propagating fake news.

If a publication or telecast of fake news is confirmed, the accreditation of that journalist would be suspended for a period of six months in the first violation and for one year in case of a second violation, the guidelines stated amid opposition. In case of a third violation, the journalist's accreditation would be cancelled permanently.

Click here for the full list of journalists accreditated by the Press Information Bureau.

"Determination is expected to be completed within 15 days by these regulating agencies. Once the complaint is registered for determination of fake news, the correspondent/journalist whoever created and/or propagated the fake news will, if accredited, have the accreditation suspended till such time the determination regarding the fake news is made by the regulating agencies," the ministry statement said.