NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leaders have started signing up for a campaign to use WhatsApp responsibly to highlight the mobile app’s misuse in the spread of hate mongering.
Prominent among those who have supported the drive are Punjab minister Vijay Inder Singla, Congress lawmakers in Haryana and Chhattisgarh Kiran Chaudhary and TS Singh Deo, and former AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmed.
With over 200 million active WhatsApp accounts in India, the spread of fake news is a serious problem.
Recently, the Centre asked WhatsApp to take “immediate action” to stop such mob lynchings.
Congress sources said it was the government’s job to maintain law and order and blaming the technology company seemed like looking for a scapegoat.
Congress spokesperson Pramod Tiwari blamed the Centre for overlooking the menace. “Why is the PM silent on lynchings?” he asked, claiming that 61 such incidents took place in 2017.
“Let us not become a part of the herd mentality which is leading this nation into disasters. Let us set examples of being duty-bound citizens who pave way for brighter futures, by owning up responsibility in the present. Be a part of #iUseWhatsappResponsibly and show that you care,” Singla tweeted.
Singh Deo and AICC in-charge of Punjab Asha Kumari went a step ahead and posted their videos appealing others to support the online drive.
“Extremely worrisome that platforms like @WhatsApp are being used to incite hatred and crime, through the circulation of misleading content. However, You and I can stop this abhorrent misuse,” Singh Deo tweeted.