Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur on Thursday informed Parliament that in 2021-22 the Ministry has taken strong action against YouTube channels working against the interest of the country.

Responding to a question in Rajya Sabha, Thakur said the Ministry has acted against 94 YouTube channels, 19 social media accounts and 747 URLs and got them blocked. These actions have been taken under the Section 69A Information Technology Act 2000, he said. The Minister further said that the Government has strongly acted against agencies working against the sovereignty of the country by spreading fake news and spreading propaganda on internet.  "Those (members of opposition) standing here (in the Well of the House) do not raise their voice against elements working against the interest of the country.

But we have taken action against them," he said, blaming the Opposition MPs protesting against the Enforcement Directorate’s summons against Congress president Sonia Gandhi in National Herald case. The Rajya Sabha for the fourth consecutive day witnessed pandemonium with the Opposition raising a din over various issues including price rise and GST.  The Question Hour took place amidst vociferous protests and I & B Minister Anurag Thakur charged the Opposition with not voicing its concerns in the GST Council meeting about essential commodities and instead disrupting Parliament.

The Upper House was marred by two adjournments in the pre-lunch session and was finally adjourned for the day shortly after lunch break. Cirticising the Opposition, Thakur said "They (representatives of non-BJP state governments) go to GST Council meeting and do not voice their concerns, but come here to protest and show placards."   He said this while replying to supplementary queries on whether the government is taking action against false propaganda carried on social media as well as by some elected representatives. The Upper House was marred by two adjournments in the pre-lunch session and was finally adjourned for the day shortly after lunch break.  Without naming anyone, Thakur also criticised some opposition leaders for creating doubts among the public regarding Covid vaccines and the Agnipath scheme.

He said despite this, 200 crore vaccine doses have been already administered. Thakur also said some elected members and former public representatives are engaged in creating confusion regarding GST on essential items, Covid vaccination and Agnipath scheme for recruitment in armed forces.  Replying to Opposition on the cases against Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, the Minister said it is important to differentiate between a fact checker and those who try to spread enmity in the garb of fact checking. 

“It is important to understand who is a fact checker and who is trying to spread enmity in society in name of fact-checking. If a complaint is registered against them, then action is taken under rule of law.” He said this in response to a question by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Kumar Jha. He had asked minister to outline procedure to deal with those who spread hatred and animosity through their commentaries. “I would like to ask the modus operandi on those who spread hatred and animosity using their commentaries where little to no action is being taken against them.

Whereas action is taken on fact checkers and we have seen that recently,” Jha said.  It was in apparent reference to Zubair case.

Thakur said just like the Press Council of India (PCI) takes action against newspapers suo motu or based on complaints filed, the Union electronics and information technology (MeitY) takes action on complaints against digital platforms and the programme code is applicable for electronic media.

 “Action is taken against them (those who spread enmity in the name of fact-checking) under the law and the Union ministry does not meddle in that,” he added.