Ahead of the Ram temple consecration ceremony on January 22, the government on Saturday issued an advisory against the spread of unverified, provocative and fake messages.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting urged newspapers, television channels, digital news publishers and social media platforms to refrain from publishing or telecasting any content that may be false or manipulated or has the potential to disturb communal harmony or public order.
“Further, as part of their due diligence obligations, the social media platforms have been advised to make reasonable efforts to not host, display or publish information of the nature mentioned above,” said an official statement.
The ministry further underlined the provisions of the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act and norms of journalistic conduct laid down by the Press Council of India under the Press Council Act.
The consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya will be held on January 22 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other dignitaries in attendance.
The new 51-inch idol of Ram Lalla, carved by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj, was placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple on Thursday afternoon.