Mamata lashes out at Centre for trying to 'curb freedom of Press'

Kolkata: Criticising the Centre's step to "curb freedom of Press" in the name of controlling fake news as a "draconian move", Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has demanded immediate withdrawal of the circular of suspending or cancelling accreditation of journalists.

Banerjee tweeted: "The PIB circular on #FakeNews control is a brazen attempt to curb Press freedom, a sure sign that the Govt has lost its way. We demand the immediate withdrawal of such a draconian move."

In the tweet, she also took a dig at BJP, without taking its name, in connection with the circulation of fake news: "And what about #FakeNews spread by a political party on a regular basis?"

It may be recalled that the Chief Minister was the first to raise her voice against circulation of fake news, mainly through social media, to purposely create trouble. She had repeatedly urged people to ignore such news and also directed the police to maintain a vigil so that such news doesn't get circulated.

It may be mentioned that when allegations of attempting to curb freedom of journalists rose against the Centre, the Mamata Banerjee government has issued a notification to give pension to journalists above 60 years as a "respect and responsibility of the state on democracy".

The Centre was forced to withdraw the move in the wake of severe criticism.