‘Misleading on facts.’ IT Ministry tears into Wall Street Journal for misreporting on the momentary ban of #ResignModi

The Wall Street Journal, in a report dated April 28 has insinuated that the Modi authorities requested social media large Facebook to take away the #ResignModi development – which is why the hashtag was blocked for a number of hours. The mentioned hashtag, which has been trending on numerous social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter is getting used amid a global media onslaught towards India for its dealing with of the pandemic. Many Indians and vested curiosity teams are making full and unfettered use of the hashtag to ahead their very own nefarious agenda throughout a nationwide disaster.Wall Street Journal sought to inflame sentiments inside India, and internationally undertaking the nation as one the place government-mandated censorship is rampant and the order of the day. However, the truth is that Facebook was by no means requested by the Modi authorities to take away the mentioned hashtag. In reality, Facebook has itself come ahead and mentioned that it acquired no directive from the Government of India to dam the #ResignModi development. Andy Stone, a Facebook spokesman mentioned, “We temporarily blocked this hashtag by mistake, not because the Indian government asked us to, and have since restored it.”Read extra: India takes on ‘Wall Street Journal’ for spreading pretend information, different international information media retailers should additionally take noticeIndia’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on Thursday mentioned that the report was deceptive on info and mischievous in intent. In a collection of tweets, the Ministry mentioned, “A story by Wall Street Journal attributing removal of a certain hashtag by Facebook to GOI’s efforts to curb public dissent is misleading on facts and mischievous in intent. Govt has not issued any direction to remove this hashtag. Facebook has also clarified that it was removed by mistake.”A narrative by @WSJ attributing removing of a sure hashtag by Facebook to GOI’s efforts to curb public dissent is deceptive on info and mischievous in intent. Govt has not issued any route to take away this hashtag. Facebook has additionally clarified that it was eliminated by mistake. https://t.co/uzgQ55PNMe— Ministry of Electronics & IT (@GoI_MeitY) April 29, 2021Media has an important function to play in appearing as a power multiplier to the efforts of our front-line employees and medical professionals. At a delicate time like this, we’d urge the media to accomplice with crores of unusual Indians as we collectively combat the pandemic.— Ministry of Electronics & IT (@GoI_MeitY) April 29, 2021The Ministry’s rebuttal to the WSJ’s pretend report included, “Media has a very important role to play in acting as a force multiplier to the efforts of our front-line workers and medical professionals. At a sensitive time like this, we would urge the media to partner with crores of ordinary Indians as we collectively fight the pandemic.” It additionally talked about how the American publication had, in March, printed a pretend information story with the heading – “India Threatens Jail for Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter Employees”. It mentioned the Government had despatched an official rebuttal to that fully pretend and manufactured story as properly.Wall Street Journal’s pretend information story being printed is in bigger development with worldwide media retailers having consecutive subject days on finish, throughout which they’re attacking India for not with the ability to management the second wave of Covid-19. Foreign publications and media networks have been gleefully reporting India’s distress and