MP says Wikipedia showed her as ‘dead’, govt assures action

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) woman member on Wednesday caused a flutter in the Lok Sabha when she alleged that Wikipedia had shown her as dead, causing concern among members and prompting the government to promise serious action. 

Raising the issue in the Zero Hour, Anju Bala said she came to know of her ‘death’ entry in social media when her secretary received a phone call from Mumbai after she participated in a women’s conference last week.

The caller sought to know whether the programme, in which she had recited a poem was held long back as she was shown “dead” on March 3 in Delhi on Wikipedia.

Besides, she alleged that there had been some claims on Wikipedia tarnishing her character and reputation.

The member wanted an FIR to be registered and bringing the guilty to book.

Amid concern voiced by members, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the incident was brought to her notice only on Tuesday.

Law Minister DV Sadananda Gowda said this is certainly a serious matter and “we will take serious action”.