Defamatory social media posts against Nitish Kumar govt now a cyber crime in Bihar

Posting “defamatory and offensive comments” against the Bihar government, its ministers, and other officials, could soon land you in jail as the state administration has decided to bring such remarks on social media under the category of cybercrime. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a long-time critic of those criticising his government on social media, has now ordered the state police's Economic Offenses Wing, the nodal point for such crimes, to report and act against those who make them.

A letter directing the same was on Thursday written by the chief of the Economic Offenses Wing, IG Nayyar Hasnain Khan, to all secretaries of the state government. "It has come to light that certain persons and organisations have been making defamatory and offensive comments on social media against the government, respected ministers, parliamentarians, legislators, and government officials," IG Khan wrote on the letter, NDTV reported. "This is against prescribed law and comes under the category of cybercrime," he wrote.

Reacting to the letter by IG Khan, Bihar leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav called Chief Minister Nitish Kumar the “Bheeshm Pitamah” of the corrupt and the “protector of criminals”. Stating that the chief minister is following the path of Hitler, the RJD leader dared the state government to arrest him for his post.

The new move by the state government comes days after Nitish Kumar lost his calm publically and screamed at reporters. Nitish Kumar is facing opposition's criticism and even some local BJP leaders have spoken against him over the law and order situation in the state. There are also reports of ongoing tensions within the NDA, with the BJP trying to be the "big brother" and JDU placed at the receiving end. Moreover, JDU MLAs in Arunachal recently joined the BJP, thus, escalating the tensions between the NDA partners.