Officials, ministers failed to counter fake news: CM

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said ministers and officials have failed to communicate the achievements of the government to the people.

Speaking after inaugurating a workshop on ‘Citizens outreach through media for good governance’, he expressed concern about fake news and lies being spread on social media.

“The government has not done enough to bring awareness among people about fake news,” he said.

The chief minister said newspapers carried false reports stating that Anna Bhagya has turned villagers lazy with nobody willing to work in farms. “This is not true. The same media did not communicate the benefits of the scheme,” he rued but added that the media should expose any corruption in the government.

Siddaramaiah said the media will do a great service to society if it communicates the truth and acts as a bridge between the government and the people. “But when media writes negatively about the government’s programmes, it is the job of the ministers and officials to clarify and answer them. This was not done properly,” he said.

He said social media can help in improving governance by allowing interaction between the government and the people. "Different departments can directly communicate with the public on social media, which can effectively put an end to fake news," he said.

Replying to his detractors, the chief minister said the government was not bankrupt. “The opposition leaders are spreading falsehood. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, an economist himself, had appreciated the state's economy,” he said.

DH News Service