India rejects punishment for false news

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ordered a withdrawal of the sentence of 'punishments' given to the journalists when they were publishing false reports in India.

On Monday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced on Monday that it would be temporarily canceled with a government 'accreditation card' if any journalist was accused of foiling news or false news.

With the 'Accreditation Card' given from the Press Information Bureau (PIB) in India, journalists get some benefits including access to any government building or event.

India's Information Minister Smriti Irani issued a directive to the journalists for the publication of false news on Monday, which caused a storm of criticism.

The guidelines also offer specific instructions for getting 'Accreditation Card'.

Describing the 'interference of media freedom', Indian journalists expressed their anger against that direction.

It is said by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that their order is in the fight against 'growing false news'.

But no explanation was given from the ministry about what the false news is meant to mean.

In the face of journalists' anger, on Tuesday afternoon, the Prime Minister asked the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to withdraw their order.

The Muslims attacked a monk, the editor of a website which was not authorized by the government last month was detained because of such a fake news.

There is no specific law on false news in India. But if there is a danger of spreading communal hatred due to any published news it is a punishable offense.

Last year, India was ranked 136 in the list of 180 countries that had the freedom of press freedom from 'Reportus Without Borders'.