Government mulling check on misuse of social media to spread communal tensions: Sushilkumar Shinde

PATNA: Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Saturday drew attention toward alleged "misuse" of social media in forking old "provocative" photographs to foment communal riots and said his ministry was mulling to put a check on it.

"Sitting in Home Ministry I see old provocative photographs being circulated on Facebook which results in communal riots," Shinde said in an indirect reference to Muzaffarnagar riots.

The minister was addressing a function at the launch of a Hindi newspaper here. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD president Lalu Prasad were also present.

"Recently there was some provocative items about Northeast and strict action was taken," Shinde said.

"Seeing the evil impact of social media which is taking the society on a wrong direction we are thinking of imposing a check on them," the Union Home minister said.

Shinde lamented "twisting" of facts in the name of investigative journalism and said it was a challenge for the media to uphold honest journalism.

"There is a question mark today on how much truth media reports give... its a big challenge for newspapers to maintain honesty of journalism," he said.

Shinde said the print media also faces challenge from faster mode of delivery of information on Internet.