Design to shred nation’s strong social fabric: Citizens’ group

NEW DELHI: A group of prominent citizens, comprising retired judges, armed forces veterans, former bureaucrats and professionals, have expressed concern over “certain vested interests” trying to create a false perception that a particular community was allegedly being harassed in the fight against coronavirus. In a letter to chief ministers, it said such efforts are aimed at “defaming” India.
“There is a larger design to shred the nation’s strong social fabric, and defame India by raking up fake anti-India news, including from the Twitter handles operated by Pakistan and its ISI for under-cover operations against India, without any verification,” the group said a letter addressed to chief ministers of states and Lt. Governors of Union Territories.
They urged the state governments to identify and expose fake news and their authors, and take stringent action against them as per law.
In their letter, they have backed the Centre’s action in coordination with states, saying they have been managing the situation quite effectively and allowing “far less fatalities”. The entire world is “praising” India’s fight against the pandemic, it said. The 183 signatories of the letter included former SC judge Anil Dave, former RAW chief Sanjiv Kumar Tripathi, Major Gen Druv Katoch (veteran) and several other eminent persons.