Govt. Action Against Urdu Press for Fatwa Against Polio Drive

According to this article, the Indian Government has decided to take action against five Urdu newspapers for allegedly defaming the polio immunisation drive. According to a police report, the publications campaigned against the Pulse Polio Immunisation programme by circulating news articles that the polio drops would affect fertility or cause brain tumors and cancer.

According to the article, the impact of the news articles on the local population or the polio campaign has not been reported, though it was mentioned that the publications had a limited circulation.

Due to the re-emergence of polio cases in Maharashtra, the government has ordered a massive Pulse Polio Immunisation drive across the state, and is appealing to the local people to help to ensure that every child is immunised.