‘Important to know who is a fact-checker’: I&B minister in Rajya Sabha

It is important to know who is a fact-checker and also to ensure that nobody creates tensions in society in the guise of fact-checking, union minister of information and broadcasting Anurag Thakur has said in the Rajya Sabha.

During the question hour on Thursday, RJD MP Manoj Jha asked why those accused of hate speech faced no action while agencies acted against fact-checkers. “What is this modus operandi?” he said.

In response, the I&B minister cited measures under the cable networks law and the Press Council of India for broadcasters and newspapers, respectively. “We have to investigate in accordance with the rules of the ministry of information and technology. It is important to know who is a fact checker…it is important to ensure that nobody, in the guise of fact-checking, creates tensions in society.”

“If someone complains against them (fact-checkers), then the law takes its own course. Our ministry does not have a direct role.”

Jha was ostensibly referring to the recent arrest of Alt News cofounder Mohammed Zubair, who was first arrested by the Delhi police and subsequently booked in several cases in Uttar Pradesh – he stood accused of hurting religious sentiments. On Wednesday, he was granted bail by the Supreme Court in all the cases lodged against him in UP.