New Delhi: The Centre on Saturday issued an advisory to news media and the social media platforms cautioning them against publishing false and provocative content ahead of Ram Temple inauguration on January 22. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued the advisory to newspapers, television channels, digital news publishers and social media platforms, warning them to refrain from publishing any content that may be false or manipulated or has the potential to disturb the communal harmony or public order in the country.
The advisory stated that it has been observed some unverified and provocative messages were being circulated on social media which has the potential to disrupt communal harmony ahead of the mega ceremony.
“The Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha at Ayodhya will be celebrated on 22nd January 2024 across India. It is observed that certain unverified, provocative and fake messages are being spread, especially on social media, which can disturb communal harmony and public order,” read the advisory.
The central advisory cited provisions of the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act and the Norms of Journalistic Conduct, which prohibit content that promotes communal disharmony or endangers the law and order situation.
"Further, as part of their due diligence obligations, social media platforms are advised to make reasonable efforts to not host, display or publish information of the nature mentioned above," the advisory added.
The television channels were also asked to follow the Programme Code as per which no programme should be carried on the cable service that contains obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false content and has suggestive innuendos and half-truths; or content that has the potential to encourage or incite violence or contains anything that can affect the law and order or which promote anti-national attitudes.