Social media being used to defame Mumbai Maharashtra Sena

    Mumbai, Sep 15 (PTI) The Shiv Sena on Tuesday claimed
social media platforms are being used systematically to defame
Mumbai and Maharashtra.
    Since the last five to six years, disparaging comments
are being made on social media in the name of gossiping and
there is no restriction on it, the Shiv Sena said in an
editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.
    Maharashtra and the Marathis are experiencing such a
situation for the past some days, it said.
    "Social media is being used systematically to defame
Mumbai and Maharashtra. But if anyone retorts to such
gossiping in their own style, then concerns are raised about
one's (the users) freedom of speech," the Marathi daily said
without mentioning any incident.
    It also referred to Supreme Court judge N V Ramanas
recent comment where he said "judges are now becoming victims
of juicy gossip and slanderous social media postings as they
restrain themselves from speaking in their own defence".
    The Uddhav Thackeray-led party said what Justice
Ramana said is true and applies to almost all sectors with its
degree varying.
    The Shiv Sena's remarks came against the backdrop of
its workers recently roughing up a retired Navy officer in
Mumbai for circulating on social media a cartoon lampooning
Maharashtra Chief Minister and Sena president Uddhav
Thackeray.
    The party was also recently engaged in a war of words
with Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, who in a Twitter post
likened Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
    The Shiv Sena, which is in power in Maharashtra along
with the NCP and Congress, also said some machineries have to
face "false criticism" helplessly due to government
obligation, but that does not mean social media users take
disadvantage of it.
    The party also wondered if social media users will
show the maturity of understanding what Justice Ramana said.
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)