Singapore to not invoke ‘Fake News Law’ in opposition to Arvind Kejriwal

After External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for propagating falsehood by claiming a “new Singapore COVID-19 variant” had transmitted within the nation, the Singapore authorities has stated that they have been glad with India’s response to the controversy.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Singapore High Commissioner to India Simon Wong stated that Singapore and India are strong companions within the combat in opposition to COVID-19, and the pandemic is aware of no boundary or political shade.
Addressing the controversy that erupted on Tuesday over Arvind Kejriwal’s pointless fear-mongering by claiming that there was a brand new Singapore variant of Covid-19 which could be very harmful to youngsters, Wong stated that the false statements by Arvind Kejriwal would invite actions below Protection from Online Falsehoods & Manipulation Act (POFMA), an act meant to mitigate misinformation within the nation. However, he added that they’re glad with the federal government of India’s clarification.
In Singapore, we now have Protection from Online Falsehoods & Manipulation Act (POFMA) to mitigate misinformation & we reserve proper to invoke POFMA on assertions made by CM (Delhi). However, we’re glad with GoI’s clarification: Simon Wong, Singapore High Commissioner to India pic.twitter.com/zLPjggB1im— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2021
The Protection from Online Falsehoods & Manipulation Act is popularly often known as Fake News Law, and it permits the authorities to reply to faux information by imposing hyperlinks to fact-checking websites, censoring web sites or social media accounts, and submitting prison fees.
The Singapore Ambassador to India stated that the Singapore authorities most popular to cope with virus and its variants in scientific phrases. We abide carefully with WHO’s advice of not giving virus any geographical title, and Singapore focuses extra on scientific facet than to place the finger on anybody, stated Singapore High Commissioner to India Simon Wong.
The High Commissioner of Singapore additional stated that after exchanges between international ministers of each the international locations, the Southeast Asian nation stated, “it would wish to put an end to this episode because authorities representing Government of India had spoken and we are heartened by those assurances.”
The Singapore Ambassador additionally appreciated the “crystal clear” clarifications by the Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar and MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, saying it was time to show the web page. 
Delhi CM Kejriwal fear-mongers about new Covid pressure, MEA slams Arvind Kejriwal
On Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to assert {that a} new variant of Covid-19 was present in Singapore, which might end in India’s third wave. Resorting to pointless fear-mongering, the Delhi Chief Minister put out unverified data to assert that the brand new variant was extraordinarily harmful for kids.
The Delhi Chief Minister additionally urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led authorities to instantly halt air companies with Singapore and prioritize vaccination drive for kids.
सिंगापुर में आया कोरोना का नया रूप बच्चों के लिए बेहद ख़तरनाक बताया जा रहा है, भारत में ये तीसरी लहर के रूप में आ सकता है।केंद्र सरकार से मेरी अपील:1. सिंगापुर के साथ हवाई सेवाएं तत्काल प्रभाव से रद्द हों2. बच्चों के लिए भी वैक्सीन के विकल्पों पर प्राथमिकता के आधार पर काम हो— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 18, 2021
Following the callous statements put out by Kejriwal, Singapore’s Health Ministry reacted strongly and dismissed the fear-mongering of the Delhi Chief Minister. The official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs revealed that the Singapore authorities had referred to as the High Commission, elevating a robust objection to Kejriwal’s assertion.
At the identical time, the civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri had additionally fact-checked the Delhi CM, saying that worldwide flights are already suspended since March final yr, and India doesn’t have an air-bubble settlement with Singapore. This signifies that at present there isn’t any industrial flight service between India and Singapore that Kejriwal needs to ban. Only some Vande Bharat flights are working from Singapore, which brings Indians trapped in international international locations to India.

केजरीवाल जी, मार्च 2020 से ही अंतर्राष्ट्रीय उड़ानें बंद हैं। सिंगापुर के साथ एयर बबल भी नहीं है।बस कुछ वन्दे भारत उड़ानों से हम वहाँ फँसे भारतीय लोगों को वापस लाते हैं। ये हमारे अपने ही लोग हैं। फिर भी स्थिति पर हमारी नज़र है। सभी सावधानियाँ बरती जा रही हैं। pic.twitter.com/wOZMX0Q5CK— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) May 18, 2021
The embarrassing incident prompted Foreign Minister Dr. S Jaishankar to difficulty a clarification, who slammed Kejriwal for his irresponsible feedback and had clarified that Delhi CM didn’t communicate for India.
However, irresponsible feedback from those that ought to know higher can harm long-standing partnerships. So, let me clarify- Delhi CM doesn’t communicate for India.— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 19, 2021
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s low cost theatrics on social media, particularly at a world stage has prompted an enormous embarrassment for the nation.