LUCKNOW: Describing fake news as a propaganda tool in the hands of self-proclaimed nationalists, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Monday that fake news has led to the origination of the word "Feku" (one who brags and lies about things)."Those who encourage fake news claim to be nationalists but are actually anti-nationals as they are doing a disservice to the nation by pushing such propaganda," he said at a discussion on Fake News organised by the BBC at Lucknow university. "The fact is that during the times of Hitler and Mussolini fake news was publicised but today it has become a huge industry and people on important posts follow those who do it and honour them behind close doors," he said, adding that it was an irony that even well-informed and educated people were involved in it.He also accused the Modi government of failing to clean the Ganga and make it pollution free. "They (BJP) don't want to ensure a clean Ganga but only use it for waterways to help businesses. They don't have any plans to ensure that the holy river is clean and pollution free that they had promised," he said. Taking a jibe at the Centre's announcement of transforming Varanasi on the lines of Japanese city Kyoto, SP chief said it is just another promise that has proved to be hollow and people of Varanasi feel that they have been taken for a ride.Recollecting how the top leaders of a national party proudly declared that fake news was spread about his family, the former UP CM said he, too, has been a victim of it. "But this must be checked because such tactics only spread hatred. "Samajwadi Party vikas se jeetna chahti hai, bakwas se nahi (SP wants to win through development and not by talking nonsense)," he said.

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