New Dehli (UNI): Information and Broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday said it is important to know who creates unrest in the society in the name of fact checking.
“It is also important to know who is the fact-checker and who is trying to create tension in the society in the name of fact checking. If someone complains, action is taken as per the law,” he said in Rajya Sabha.
Thakur was responding to RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha who, in an apparent reference to Alt News co-founder Muhammad Zubair, asked why the government took action against him.
“What kind of modus operandi is this, when there is either no action or symbolic action is taken against those who make hate speeches, but action is taken against those who are fact checkers,” Jha said.
“If someone complains, action is taken. Our ministry doesn’t take action. The law takes it’s own course. Action is taken as per the laws of different states,” the minister said.
Responding to another query, he said the government is taking strict action against anti-national forces and it has blocked 94 YouTube channels and 19 social media accounts in 2021 and 2022.
“About 94 YouTube channels, 19 social media accounts and 747 URLs have been banned by the government. The government has taken action against those who acted against the nation,” Thakur said.
The minister said action is taken under relevant provisions of the IT Act keeping in mind sovereignty, integrity and defence of India whenever anti-India propaganda is unleashed on the internet.
Thakur also targeted the Opposition parties for protesting against GST in the House.
“They don’t raise their concerns in the GST Council, instead show placards here,” he said.
