new delhi: Delhi Assembly's newly constituted peace and harmony committee forwarded a social media message containing hateful content to Delhi Police for the registration of an FIR.
The Delhi Legislative Assembly Committee for Peace and Harmony held a meeting on Tuesday which was chaired by Rajinder Nagar MLA Raghav Chadha, who is also the chairperson of the Committee.
The Committee had received nearly 8,000 complaints within two weeks of the launch of WhatsApp
number and e-mail id to check fake news and rumour mongering.
Raghav Chadha said that the committee had screened 2,110 complaints, out of which 504 were found to be inflammatory, provocative and incriminating in nature.
Chadha said, "Within two weeks, Peace and Harmony Committee had received 7,732 complaints through WhatsApp and e-mail id. Around 2,110 complaints have been screened till now, out of which 504 complaints were found to be inflammatory, provocative and incriminating in nature. We are examining all these complaints on a mission mode."
The Committee also summoned two complainants and heard their submissions at length. After preliminary inquiry and their statements, a fit case for FIR was made out. Both the complainants also assured their support during the judicial process. The Committee will meet more complainants in due course.
"The committee has decided in the coming time we will meet all the complainants and alleged offenders of the complaints containing hate contents. We assure that it is our responsibility to take every complaint with to its logical conclusion. The committee will ensure strong action against the offenders who spread such inflammatory messages," said the chairperson of the Committee.
"We have decided to bring IT experts, fact-checking websites and lawyers to check these contents. The Committee has instituted an award of Rs 10,000 to whistleblowers to check the spread of fake news," added Chadha.
Interestingly, the nine-member peace and harmony committee was initially formed under Greater Kailash MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj. The Delhi Assembly Secretariat on Monday appointed Chadha as the new Chaiperosn.
The Peace and Harmony Committee was formed after the riot that broke out in north east Delhi in February. The Committee has received 7,732 complaints since its launch two weeks ago.