Former Congress president and Nehru family scion Rahul Gandhi spread fake news about the communal tension in Tripura. On Thursday evening, he posted 'Hindus' were committing atrocities on Muslims in Tripura.
He posted on Twitter “त्रिपुरा में हमारे मुसलमान भाइयों पर क्रूरता हो रही है। हिंदू के नाम पर नफ़रत व हिंसा करने वाले हिंदू नहीं, ढोंगी हैं। सरकार कब तक अंधी-बहरी होने का नाटक करती रहेगी?”
He accused the government of being blind and deaf.
Jamiat Ulama's Tripura President Mufti Tayebur Rahman denied the charges. He backed Tripura's Director General of Police V S Yadav, saying all mosques in the state are safe.
This is not the first time when Rahul Gandhi has been caught spreading fake news. He has done it on many occasions in the past too. In August this year, the microblogging platform Twitter had locked the account of Rahul Gandhi for violating Twitter rules.
Following minor clashes in North Tripura on Tuesday (October 26), Islamists had started spreading fake news that Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) workers had burnt down a mosque. On Tuesday (October 26), the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) workers held a rally to protest the Islamists' attack on Hindu temples in Bangladesh. Some miscreants pelted stones on the VHP workers, which resulted in minor clashes.
In a series of social media posts, Tripura Police said social media was used to spread fake news that a mosque had been burnt down in North Tripura. It posted, "Certain persons by using fake social media IDs are spreading fake news/rumours on Tripura. It is informed that law & order situation in the State is absolutely normal." Adding "During yesterday's protest rally in Panisagar, North Tripura, no masjid was burnt and the pictures being shared of burning or damaged masjid or collection of sticks etc are all fake and are not from Tripura. They may be of some countries."
It requested people not to fall for such fake news, posting, "We request people of all communities not to support & subscribe to such fake IDs and do not spread such fake pictures. We have already registered cases and Legal action will be taken against all those spreading fake news and communally sensitive rumours."
Warning that legal action will be taken against all those vested interests who want to disturb peace in the state, Tripura Police appealed for cooperation in maintaining law & order. It posted, "Some vested interests are trying to disturb the peaceful communal situation of Tripura. Tripura Police requests every citizen of Tripura to help it in maintaining law and order and peace in Tripura."
