IT Rules Amendments Draws Criticism of NAJ And DUJ

The National Alliance of Journalists (NAJ) and the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) in a joint statement recently
criticised both the draft amendments to the IT Rules, 2021 and also the use of emergency powers to block
attempts to air the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) documentary on the 2002 riots.

In a joint statement DUJ President S.K.Pande, DUJ General Secretary Sujata Madhok, NAJ Secretary General
N. Kondaiah and APWJF General Secretary G.Anjaneyulu stressed that the Press Information Bureau
(PIB) has turned into a Police Information Bureau to curb the media as was done during the Emergency
whereas it should continue to provide government news to the media. It cannot be tasked with
monitoring and censoring the media and identifying as ‘fake news’ any information inconvenient to the
government.

The joint statement also regretted that the PIB, under the control of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, is today living up
to its old reputation, under the British Raj, as a war time organization intended to screen the news coming from
various theatres of war, rather than a Press Information Bureau (PIB). It is the job of PIB to facilitate media
persons’ access to official information. It is shocking that PIB has reportedly refused on some occasions to
provide even accredited special correspondents the information they seek on government matters.
Further, the recent amendment to the IT Rules gives not just PIB but also all Union government ministries and
departments the powers to demand that news they object to be taken down by social media companies. This
seems to be a move aimed at censoring the small, independent digital media.

The journalists associations also condemned the increasing attacks on students and their unions for
trying to relay the BBC documentary in various universities. This is part of a continuum of attacks on the rights
and freedom of the press. Pic courtesy: Business Standard