Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the government has repeatedly cautioned media outlets and citizens against sharing or believing unverified news. Despite these warnings, social media platforms remain flooded with misinformation and disinformation, with numerous fake accounts spreading false information that has misled not only ordinary citizens but also government officials.
On Thursday night, when Pakistan was reportedly using Turkish-made drones to target Indian military installations, several journalists cited sources claiming that the Indian Navy had launched an attack on Karachi. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju shared this unverified information on his social media handle without fact-checking.
However, upon realising that the news about an Indian naval strike on Pakistan was false, he deleted his post. Screenshots of the deleted post are now circulating widely on social media. Responding to one such viral post, the Minister highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating, "Who's doing this mischievous work? It's serious time for all of us. This is no time to play politics. Somebody creating fake accounts and sharing through journalists!"
Speaking to media in Delhi after an all-party meeting yesterday, Rijiju emphasised the importance of vigilance, saying, "Many fake news is being propagated to spread fake news, and hence, I appeal to all in this time not to trust any fake news coming out of the country or from within the country and to trust only authentic information."
