Rajnath Singh Makes Statement in Lok Sabha on Mob Lynchings, Puts Onus On States To Take Strict Action
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday made a statement in Lok Sabha on multiple cases of lynching across the country over the past few months.
New Delhi, July 19: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday made a statement in Lok Sabha on multiple cases of lynching across the country over the past few months. Calling the incidents unfortunate, Singh said that states must take the strictest possible action in lynching cases. He also said that the government has asked social media sites to regulate content to ensure fake news isn't spread online.
"These are unfortunate incidents. We had issued an advisory on this recently, and one in 2016 also. Social media being used to spread fake news and rumours is also a reason. We have asked social sites for regulation," Singh said addressing Lok Sabha on Day 2 of Monsoon Session.
Shortly after the Home Minister's statement, the Congress MPs staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha. "The Home Minister's statement in Lok Sabha on mob lynching was not satisfactory at all, that is why we staged a walkout from the house. This is not a game of ping-pong that states and Centre keep shifting responsibilities," said Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.
Singh's statement came amid protests by the Opposition against increasing incidents of mob lynchings. Reports also say that the Congress is planning to corner the Narendra Modi government over the issue during the discussion on no-confidence motion on Friday in Lok Sabha.
There have been over 30 incidents of lynchings across the country over the past two months. Most of these are cases involving mobs that killed a person on suspicion of child theft after messages were circulated on WhatsApp. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court, while hearing a petition on cow vigilantism and lynchings, asked the Centre to see if a new law can be framed in Parliament on lynching. The court said, "Horrendous acts of mobocracy cannot be allowed to become a new norm."
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 19, 2018 12:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).