Don’t spread dirt through social media, appeals PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged people not to use social media to “spread dirt”. He said the issue was not about any ideology but just that it simply does not behove a decent society.

In a video interaction with Bharatiya Janata Party workers and volunteers from Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency, Modi stressed the need to create an atmosphere of positive news about the country and share information that strengthens the society.

He lamented that a quarrel between two families in a ‘mohalla’ becomes a national news nowadays.

“People at times overstep the bounds of decorum. They hear or see something false and forward it. They don’t notice that how much damage they are doing to society. Some people use such words that do not behove any decent society. They say or write anything about women,” he said replying to a question.

He then continued, saying that the issue is not about any political party or ideology. “It is about 125 crore Indians... And everybody should train themselves to never spread dirt through the social media,” the PM said.

The ‘Swachhta Abhiyan’ or cleanliness drive is not just about sanitation but also about mental purity, he said, asking people to share good things around them on social media.

Use of foul language or abuses on social media has often divided opinions among political parties with BJP’s rivals accusing its supporters or those aligned to right wing ideology of using invectives against those they don’t like.