Officials in Manipur have been told to leave formal and informal social media groups that promote “separatist, anti-national, communal, and divisive agendas”.
The decision was issued amid claims that Manipur’s administration and police are divided along ethnic lines, according to The Hindu.
According to the article, all government agencies have been asked for compliance reports.
“The letter sent by T. Ranjit Singh, Commissioner (Home), is part of a status report filed by the Manipur government in Supreme Court on August 1,” it said.
“It has been noticed that many formal and informal groups on social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and other chat groups are engaged in furthering separatist, anti-national, anti-State, anti-social, communal, and divisive agendas which cause disturbance in existing peaceful social harmony and law and order situation of the State,” the report that quoted the letter said.
According to the research, members of the organizations engage in the dissemination of fake material, hate speech, and films as well as the sharing of information that shouldn’t be in the public domain in order to further their own objectives.
The letter claimed that many senior officials are “inadvertently or deliberately” participating in social media groups. It further claimed that “some government employees are also contributing, sharing and commenting” on blogs and microblogging websites in a way that is improper for a government employee.
Being a part of such organizations “violates Rules 5 and 7 or both of All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, and Rules 5, 9, and 11 or all three of Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964,” the document cautioned, and such members are subject to disciplinary action. According to the article, similar instructions were also released in August 2022.
The ethnic conflict between the Kuki and Meitei groups, which started on May 3, has resulted in the deaths of over 150 individuals.
