Ban social media like China, says Ajit Pawar, but backtracks later

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar didn’t just reopen the debate on regulation of social media – he courted controversy with what will no doubt be a highly contentious statement when he said on Monday that India needs a two-year ban on social media “on the lines of China”. He later softened his stand a bit, calling for regulation instead. Referring to recent incidents of violence in the state following defamatory posts on social media, Pawar opined that there is a need for a ban on social media. Interestingly, Pawar’s remarks comes a day after his uncle and NCP chief Sharad Pawar attacked the new government at the Centre for a sharpening communal divide just days after the new government took charge. “There should be a ban on the social media for two years on the lines of China. The recent incidents have taken a toll on society. So, the state government and opposition should request the Union government for a ban on social media,” Pawar said. He was speaking in response to the discussion on additional budget estimates in the monsoon session of the state assembly. However, Pawar took a U-turn from his statement a little later. “I don’t mean banning the social media but some of kind of regulation on it. I am not against social media or its freedom,” he clarified. [caption id=“attachment_1485769” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Pawar later said there should be regulation of social media. PTI[/caption] Two incidents of defamatory posts on social media have been reported in Maharashtra during the course of the past week. In one incident, a defamatory post morphing photos of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Bal Thackeray and others sparked the violence across the state. In another incident reported on Sunday, a defamatory post about Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar was put up on social media, which also led to violence in parts of the state. “In both cases, we have registered cases and also have arrested people involved in it,” added the deputy chief minister. On Sunday, NCP chief Sharad Pawar attacked the new BJP government at the Centre stating that communal divisions are widening within just a few days of the new government taking charge. “A communal rift has stretched out across the state and nation as well within a few days since the new government took over. Some inactive right wing outfits seems to have got encouraged, which can be seen from the murder of a techie in Pune and today’s incident of a defaming post (on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar) on social media,” the NCP chief said.