GUWAHATI, March 25 - In the midst of all the �fake news� and misinformation campaign being launched by certain elements against the print media and the newspaper industry following the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, a senior Congress leader�s Facebook post calling for suspension of distribution of newspapers in the State during the lockdown has generated controversy.
In a Facebook post made on Monday, general secretary (Organisation) of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) Ranjan Bora wrote that distribution of newspapers should remain suspended during the period of lockdown.
Bora�s post drew sharp reaction and condemnation, coming as it did during a time when fake news and misinformation about likelihood of spread of Covid-19 through newspapers have hit the print industry across India, including Assam, hard.
Following the outcry, Bora deleted his post and apologised for it. He clarified that he had only posted the comment with a view on the fact that people associated with the media industry should be able to maintain social distance by staying at home.
However, he did not clarify why his post did not contain any reference to the need for maintaining social distance by people associated with the electronic media and digital media.
The Congress party also did not issue any official response to the controversy generated by Bora�s post.
It is noteworthy that in recent days some unscrupulous elements have been circulated fake and misleading things in the social media and the digital format about Covid-19 spreading through newspapers. The situation went to such an extent that experts of the health sector and even Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had to clarify that there is no truth to such apprehensions.
