CM warns against misuse of social media

DIPR/OSR
IMPHAL, Jan 23: Chief Minister N Biren Singh has warned against misusing social media platforms like Youtube, X (formerly twitter), Facebook, Instagram etc in the State.
Addressing media persons this afternoon at his Secretariat, the Chief Minister said it is unfortunate that there has been an upsurge recently in the use of social media platforms in an uncivilized, uncouth and harmful manner.
The Chief Minister warned social media influencers and administrators of social media pages including Youtubers against victimizing and stigmatizing anyone by tarnishing his/her character or to incite communal hatred, and added that one must be fully aware of one's actions and its consequences on others.
The Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, warned of legal actions against those misusing social media platforms and said that a special police team will be constituted to look into such cases.
He continued that the Police Intelligence wing has been instructed to issue a formal notification to check the activity of Youtubers, social media influencers, Facebook page admins, X (formerly twitter) and create awareness cum warning against misusing social media platforms.
No one, no matter how influential or strong they are, is authorised to be the moral police of the society and take the law into their hands, the Chief Minister stated and warned against the use of social media platforms to admonish others or to incite communal flare ups.
He also decried ‘commu-nalization’ of social media.
Noting that several videos wherein highly immoral and obscene languages are used have been found circulated on social media, the Chief Minister pointed out that such posts can ruin the character/reputation of not only individuals but also whole families.
Biren went on to ask how strong and powerful are those groups which subjected individuals to highly immoral, offensive and obscene questioning.
Questioning the purpose of interfering in the private lives of individuals and humiliating them in public, the Chief Minister categorically stated that social media posts which can potentially assassinate the character of individuals and ruin their families will not be tolerated.
If any individual subjected to such humiliation and ignominy commits suicide, those who shame the victims on social media would be held accountable, he said.
The Government puts no restriction on sharing posts on development, social issues and political matters. But these days, several posts are being circulated which can assassinate the character of individuals and ruin their families, he said.
There are also many people who are uploading and circulating statements and videos which are highly communal and provocative, and can lead to communal flare ups. Some of these people are sitting at Delhi. Police have been directed to arrest those miscreants, the Chief Minister said.
He also expressed strong disapproval against armed people taking citizens into their custody, questioning people in their custody and sharing videos of their acts on social media.        
The Chief Minister also came out strongly against those using fake names or identities to create animosity/flare-ups among communities, inciting anti-National feelings among the youth and said those using fake names can also be arrested.
Acknowledging the presence of numerous Civil Society Organisations in the State, the Chief Minister hinted that no organization or association has the authority to arrest, pick up, assault, admonish someone or brandish weapons.
Strongly warning those who intimidate Government officials and make monetary demands or contract works, the Chief Minister said that there is a Government as well as laws.
The Chief Minister further asked all concerned to stop banning contract works and threatening engineers/officials when the particular contract works are not given to them.
Today everyone seems to be acting like the authority, questioning anyone they like and uploading such videos on social media. The Government will not tolerate anyone taking the law in their own hands and inciting communal flare ups, assassinating someone’s character or disturbing personal lives with their social media posts, he added.
The Chief Minister also said that many of those involved in vandalizing properties of Cabinet Ministers and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) have been apprehended and legal proceedings taken up against them, he added.
The Chief Minister said that the Government is for the people and will continue to protect and preserve the integrity and identity of Manipur.
He further appealed to the people to support and cooperate with the Government in its stand.
Stating that the situation in the State has improved to some extent, the Chief Minister said missions like the Go to Hills, Go to Village, Meeyamgi Numit have resumed.
 N Biren Singh who distributed track suits to the journalists fraternity today further urged the media fraternity to continue the constructive roles they have been taking so that the State may return to the days of peace and development.
On being asked about the long overdue local body elections, N Biren said that the ADC, Municipality and Panchayat elections have been delayed due to the ongoing crisis.
The Government has been working to hold the local body elections by facilitating the return of displaced people to their homes/villages, he said.
Nonetheless, the Panchayats have been functioning with nominated members and the ADCs too have been functioning smoothly through DCs, he claimed.
The Government would soon take a decision to hold the local body elections after considering the improving law and order situation.
Due process has been initiated to increase the number of Imphal-Delhi flights from February 16, he added.
Ministers Th Biswajit, Dr S Ranjan, L Susindro, H Dingo, MLAs Karam Shyam, Kh Ibomcha, S Premchandra, Kh Loken, Sapam Kunjakeswar and L Dikho were also present at the press meet.