NEW DELHIinfo-icon: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday ordered the withdrawal of rules punishing journalists held responsible for distributing "fake news", giving no reason for the change, less than 24 hours after the original announcement.

The move followed an outcry by journalists and opposition politicians that the rules represented an attack on freedom of the press and an effort by Modi's government to rein in free speech before a general election due by next year.

Late on Monday, the information ministry had said the government would cancel its accreditation of journalists who peddled "fake news".

After Modi's intervention, the ministry announced the withdrawal in a one-line statement.

Journalists said they welcomed the withdrawal, but could not rule out the possibility that it was a "trial balloon" to test the waters for putting more restrictions on the press.

"A government fiat restraining the fourth pillar of our democracy is not the solution," a statement issued by the Press Club said.