Mumbai: Against the backdrop of violence following a string of objectionable posts related to popular icons, the Maharashtra government has decided to request the Centre to take steps to bring restrictions on social media.
"We are not for banning of social media. But we can request the Centre to consider taking some steps for one-two years like China had done," Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said.
He was talking during a debate on the budget in the Legislative Assembly.
"The state government will do all that is required to punish the guilty and we would request the Centre to take steps to bring restrictions on social media," he stated.
Referring to the recent incidents of violence said to have been triggered over the posting of objectionable content purportedly related to Maratha king Shivaji, late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and Dalit icon Babasaheb Ambedkar on online media, Ajit said that the use of social media by anti- social elements was a cause for concern.
"The use of social media by anti-social elements to create social and communal tension is a cause for concern. It is difficult to track who is posting derogatory content and efforts to remove the same are time-consuming and the damage is already done by that time," the NCP leader said.
The minister informed the House that 112 cases have been filed and 298 people have been booked so far in connection with the instances pertaining to uploading of objectionable content on social media and resultant violence in various parts of the state.
