Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, January 22
Former Deputy Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav became the first person to violate the newly introduced government rule to regulate contents on social media by calling the Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar “Hitler.”
Yadav challenged the police to take action and arrest him.
On Thursday evening, Bihar police headquarters had issued a circular to all principal secretaries and secretaries to take action against the individuals and organisations who criticise the state government, ministers, MPs and legislators and government officials in social media through objectionable contents.
The circular issued by the additional director general of police, Nayyar H Khan, who is also head of the nodal agency on cyber crimes, had advised the officers to inform the Cyber police against individuals and organisations who put objectionable, defamatory and misleading comments on social media, internet.
He said these comments were against the provisions of the law and invited necessary penal action.
On Friday morning, Tejaswhi tweeted criticizing the chief minister for the circular and described Nitish Kumar as “Hitler.” Tejashwi said Nitish Kumar was Bhisma Pitamah of corruption, protector of dreaded criminals and a weak chief minister of an immoral and illegal government. Innocents are punished and culprits are allowed to move free, Bihar police is engaged in illicit liquor trade.
He dared the chief minister to arrest him for violating the new order of the government.
The additional DG of police said till now, the service providers were asked to delete the defamatory contents. With the new order coming into force, FIR would be filed against those misusing social media platforms against the government. Police had received more than 500 complaints in cyber cells last year on misuse of social media platforms.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on January 5 had advised the police to keep watch on social media as the platforms were misused by vested interests against the government. “Log kuch bhi likhte rahte hain,” he had said in a meeting with the officers. On January 16, while inaugurating a road project here he had questioned the loyalty of the journalists “Who do you support.” He was reacting to uncomfortable questions related to murder of Indigo station manager Rupesh Kumar Singh. He had charged the media with demoralising the police. Rupesh Kumar Singh was shot dead outside his house here on January 12. Till now, no arrest has been made.
Chief MInister had asked the officials to counter fake news circulation through social media and directed them to get the developmental works highlighted. He had alleged during the assembly elections, wrong and misleading information through social media caused damage to the JDU. In his meetings with the party leaders at JDU headquarters here, he had asked them not to trust social media posts.
