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After failed ‘Fake News’ attempt, Govt moves to regulate online news

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After failed 'Fake News' attempt, Govt moves to regulate online news

On the face of it, the government’s stated intent behind the move to establish regulatory framework for online media and news portals seems innocuous enough – as with the order on Fake News that was hastily withdrawn in the face of angry protests.

However, the composition of committee that would go about this task shows what the outcome would be like: seven out of ten members are government officials.

And, interestingly, the Smriti Irani headed Information and Broadcasting ministry, issued the order for the committee on April 4, a day after it withdrew its guidelines on fake news following directions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to reports, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry headed by Smriti Irani has set up a committee with its secretary as the convenor to recommend formation of appropriate policy for online media, including news portals.

The 10-member committee includes secretaries of the ministries of Home, Electronics and Information Technology, the departments of Legal Affairs, Industrial Policy and Promotion and the CEO of MyGov. There will be another nominee from any other government or organisation whom the convenor deems fit.

The three media representatives will be from the Press Council of India (PCI), News Broadcasters Association (NBA) and the Indian Broadcasters Federation (IBF).

The Terms of the reference (ToR) of the committee include delineation of the sphere of online information dissemination which needs to be brought under regulation, on the lines applicable to the print and electronic media.

The committee will recommend “appropriate policy formulation” for online media/ news portal and online content platforms, including digital broadcasting, that encompasses entertainment, infotainment and news and media aggregators.

It will do so keeping in mind the existing FDI norms, programmes and advertising code for TV channels and norms circulated by Press Council, code of ethics framed by News Broadcasters Association (NBA), and Indian Broadcasting Foundation’s (IBF) prescribed norms for electronic media.

The committee will also analyse the international scenario on the existing regulatory mechanism with a view to incorporate the best practices.

The order said the content on private television channels is regulated by the Programme and Advertisement Codes, while the PCI has norms to regulate the print media. “There are no norms or guidelines to regulate the online media websites and news portals. Therefore, it has been decided to constitute a committee to frame and suggest a regulatory framework for online media/ news portals including digital broadcasting and entertainment/ infotainment sites and news/ media aggregators,” it said.

Predictably, industry insiders expressed apprehension over the move. The Times of India reported a comment from Anant Goenka of The Indian Express: “The terms of reference of the committee are vague and it is difficult, therefore, to ascertain its scope. How active this committee will be and its repercussions remain to be seen. On a first look, however, I think that there are too many members of government and there isn’t any representation from the segment it hopes to regulate. Having members of the government involved in the free flow of news and information is not welcome. If the committee’s regulations ultimately prove to be the government’s back door attempt to control mainstream news, I have no doubt that they will meet the same fate as similar attempts in the past.”

The report also had a statement from Dhanya Rajendran of The News Minute: “I’m all for a registry of news websites through which they can at least be recognised by the government. State governments often do not recognise them. But a potential regulation should not take away the freedom people currently have to set up a news website.”

On April 2, the ministry had announced norms to contain fake news which said that if publication or telecast of fake news was confirmed, accreditation of the journalist would be suspended for six months in case of first violation and for one year in case of a second violation.

In case of a third violation, his or her accreditation would be cancelled permanently, the ministry had said. However, the guidelines were withdrawn by the ministry on the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the government drew flak from media bodies and opposition which dubbed these norms an attempt to muzzle free press.

The committee, said media professionals, would be a government-dominated body to frame guidelines for a profession that is, at least in principle, supposed to act as a part of the system of checks and balances in a democracy and act as people’s watchdog, rather than serve the government of the day – essentially the political party in charge.

After failed 'Fake News' attempt, Govt moves to regulate online news

India News

Amit Shah says BJP will neither remove reservation for SCs, STs and OBC, nor will allow Congress to do so

The Home Minister alleged that the Congress’ formula was to speak lies loudly, publicly and repetitively. He advised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge not to speak lies for a family as eventually he will have to take the blame for the party’s loss in the Lok Sabha elections

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday continued to attack Congress over reservation row. He was addressing a rally in Katghora town of Chhattisgarh’s Korba district to campaign for Saroj Pandey, BJP candidate from the Korba Lok Sabha seat where Shah said BJP will neither remove reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs, nor will it allow Congress to do so.

The Home Minister alleged that the Congress’ formula was to speak lies loudly, publicly and repetitively. He advised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge not to speak lies for a family as eventually he will have to take the blame for the party’s loss in the Lok Sabha elections. Shah accused Congress of nurturing terrorism and Naxalism to win the Lok Sabha elections.

Shah further added that Congress claims if Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji gets majority for the third term, he will scrap reservation. He said the grand old party has even circulated his fake video. Shah said that have been in power for the last 10 years and PM Modi did not remove reservation, nor will he do it in the future.

The Union Home Minister further asserted Modi ji used the majority to scrap Article 370 and triple talaq, construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and introduce the Citizenship Amendment Act. He further told the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi do not belong to anyone. He said on June 4 Congress will suffer defeat and the brother-sister duo will remain safe, but Kharge ji will be blamed.

Shah further asserted if PM Modi becomes the prime minister for the 3rd straight term, then Naxalism will be uprooted in two years in Chhattisgarh.  Shah targeted the previous Bhupesh Baghel-led government in Chhattisgarh and said, The Bhupesh Kakka government encouraged Naxalism, but after the BJP came to power in the state under CM Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma 95 Naxalites have been eliminated in 4 months.

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India News

Salman Khan house firing: Accused Anuj Thapan dies by suicide in Mumbai Police custody

Anuj Thapan died by suicide in lock-up of Mumbai Police’s custody

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One of the accussed, Anuj Thapan, attempted suicide while being held by police in the most recent development in the Salman Khan house firing case. It is said that Anuj gave guns to the shooters. Thapan was sent to the nearest hopital for a checkup after he was seen held.

The 23-year-old deceased Anuj Thapan committed suicide by hanging himself with a bedsheet inside the locked toilet. He was taken to the GT Hospital, which is maintained by the state, and while receiving care, an official claimed, he was pronounced dead. An accidental death report would be filed at the police station in south Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, as per a report.

Earlier, both the shooters, Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal, who opened fire outside the actor’s residence in Bandra were detained from Gujarat’s Bhuj. For every accused person who has been detained, the Mumbai Police have invoked MCOCA laws. Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi is identified as the leader of the group by Mumbai Police. The FIR now included sections on MCOCA.

Meanwhile, Salman’s security level was raised to Y-Plus in 2022 in response to threats made by gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar. The Sultan actor also carrys a new armored vehicles for increased protection and was given permission to carry a handgun on his person.

Later, the Mumbai Crime Branch requested in writing to the Ministry of Home Affairs to issue a lookout notice for Anmol, the brother of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. A few hours after the incident,  Anmol Bishnoi claimed responsibility for the gunfire at Salman Khan’s house via his Facebook profile.

Meanwhile, Salman Khan recently met UK MP Barry Gardiner, who represents Brent North, while he was in London. Salman and Barry are both visible inside Wembley Stadium in a number of images circulating online.

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2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Priyanka Gandhi says PM Modi is far away from reality of common people, calls him an egoistic person

The Congress leader also alleged there was a mafia raj in BJP-ruled Assam. She said there have been very serious charges against Himanta Biswa Sarma when he was in the Congress party. As soon as he changed sides to BJP, all charges against him were dropped.

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Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi was addressing a rally in Assam’s Dhubri on Wednesday where she said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not stop JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna from leaving India. She said PM Modi is far away from the reality of common people and has no understanding of their miseries as he has become egoistic.

This was not the first time that Priyanka Gandhi attacked PM Modi over the sex scandal. Earlier this week, she questioned PM Modi’s silence over the matter. Gandhi said Prajwal Revanna who stood along with PM Modi, for whom the prime minister asked for votes, has been accused of abusing thousands of women.  She added the numbers are staggering and asked Modi’s response over the matter. Gandhi said she was keen to hear what the Union home minister had to say on the matter.

Priyanka Gandhi recollected that a few days earlier she had travelled abroad to visit her daughter. She said the Prime Minister and Home Minister are constantly discussing her overseas trips. She said they are well aware about when she is going to travel and are even keeping track of opposition leaders’ travels. Yet, when an accused, someone like him Prajwal Revanna, leaves the country, they claim ignorance. How can anyone accept this? She said the matter has slipped away right under their noses after committing such a grave offence, and yet they remain silent.

The Congress leader also alleged there was a mafia raj in BJP-ruled Assam. She also attacked Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. She said there have been very serious charges against Himanta Biswa Sarma when he was in the Congress party. As soon as he changed sides to BJP, all charges against him were dropped. Gandhi further added the BJP has developed a washing machine where corrupt people are put and the Assam CM was the first one in this regard.

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