The Congress on Saturday attacked the Narendra Modi government’s move to usurp the right to judge and regulate “fake news”, alleging “censorship and control” of the Internet and asking whether it would rein in the BJP IT cell that “runs the biggest fake news factory in India”.

“The IT amendment rules were notified by the ministry of electronics and information technology two days back. It is bizarre because these rules were put up for consultation in January. It now says that fake news against the central government will be checked by a unit of the government itself,” party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said.

“This will curb media freedom as the government can get any news item removed by describing it fake.” Shrinate added: “You believe that because you will suppress large sections of media, you can do that to independent digital platforms as well. You are trying to control — this is nothing but censorship and control of the World Wide Web.”

She went on: “The government is the propagator, the author, the originator of fake news. The BJP IT cell runs the biggest fake news factory in India. The half-truth, the complete lies, the slander, the reputation assassination that happens from that fake news factory is proven.

“The Prime Minister lies; the controversy about his educational qualification originated only because lies were spoken in the past. Will the government act against its own by dismantling the vast mechanism of fake news?”

Shrinate cited examples to allege that the BJP IT cell ran fake news before returning to the subject of the silencing of dissent.

“The budget session has just gotten over. The Adani scam, the Chinese occupation, unemployment, high prices, income inequality continue to be the raging issues of our times,” she said.

“What you (the government) did — you first sent police and marshals to silence the MPs. You cancel Rahul Gandhi’s membership."

Shrinate argued that the government’s latest move violated the Constitution and the IT Act.

“The social media platforms are against it. The users are against it, the media houses are against it. You read the statement of your own body, the Press Council of India, and you will figure out how draconian these rules are and how everything is being done to suppress the truth, to suppress the press,” she said.

“Uncomfortable questions, the uncomfortable truth baffle this government. They are on the back foot, which is why they are now trying to control the digital platforms.”

Shrinate hit back when queried on the BJP allegation that the Congress is spreading misinformation about a partner of the Gautam Adani group that is Taiwanese and not Chinese as claimed by Rahul Gandhi.

“Why does the BJP feel the pain when Adani’s nerves are pressed? The BJP should defend the government; why are they defending Adani?” she said.

“Let Adani clarify. Is the BJP IT cell working for Adani? Is the BJP part of Adani’s corporate communication?”