Manipur tells govt staff to quit online ‘hate’ groups

GUWAHATI: The Manipur government has reissued a year-old order to all employees to exit social media groups “furthering separatist, anti-national, communal and divisive agenda”, warning of disciplinary action if they are found associating with anything or anybody trying to foment trouble in the already violence-ravaged state.
The renewed directive coincides with the Supreme Court hearing a petition filed by the Zomi Students’ Federation, seeking steps to ensure “restraint by persons holding official positions from making inciting or provocative remarks directed at any particular community that may exacerbate the (ongoing) conflict”.
The continuing ban on mobile internet and other platforms in Manipur has seemingly failed to stem the tide of fake news, hate comments and prov ocation on social media.
On May 29, weeks after violence erupted in the state, the BJP-led government had issued a notice specifically asking “individuals in responsible positions” with a large social media following to stop “generating and sharing information in connection with the ongoing law and order situation”.
The original order direct ing government employees to quit social media groups with provocative content had been issued on August 10 last year amid an indefinite economic blockade by the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur, which was then demanding tabling of the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council (Amendment) Bill 2021 in the assembly.
In an Independence Dayeve appeal, CM N Biren Singh said on Monday that everyone in the state must be willing to find a solution to the ethnic conflict. “People on both sides are engaged in acts of violence, guided by thoughts of hatred and vengeance. The voice of reason hardly appeals to them, but with over 150 dead and hundreds injured, homes and places of faith razed to the ground, we are not leaving a good legacy for our children and our future generations,” he said.
(With inputs from K Sarojkumar Sharma in Imphal)