PIB apologises for posting anti-national content from its official Twitter handle: PIB social media team posts tweet in solidarity with Jamia Islamia Jihadi violence; calls for the rejection of CAB

A tweet was posted from the official twitter handle of the Press Information Bureau, which comes under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, expressing solidarity with the Jihadi violence sponsored by Jamia Millia Islamia students. The tweet also called for the rejection of the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB).

“Seeing Jamia turn into a war zone is the last thing I expected to see. I can’t let my alma mater bleed,” the tweet said with hashtags such as “Reject CAB,” “Stop Violence against students”, “I stand with Jamia” etc.

A few minutes later, the PIB has come up with an explanation, saying that a member of the social media team inadvertently tweeted from the official handle her personal comments on the situation in Jamia Millia. The agency expressed regret over the ‘error’ and assured its followers that suitable action is being taken!

“A member of our Social Media team inadvertently tweeted from the @PIB_India handle her personal comments on the situation in Jamia Millia. The error is deeply regretted. Suitable action is being taken,” PIB tweeted.

Though the agency disowned the offensive tweet and expressed ]regret, the incident has raised a grave question about the integrity of the officials of the PIB, the nodal agency for communicating to media on behalf of Government of India, which disseminates information to the print, electronic and new media on government plans and policies. With the President giving his assent, the Bill has become law of the land. The PIB is also the Government’s nodal agency to facilitate private media.