Bihar issues gag order, says 'objectionable' social media posts will be treated as cybercrime

NEW DELHI: The Economic Offences Wing of Bihar Police, which also looks after cybercrime, issued a letter to all departments in the state saying any "objectionable" post on social media against government officials and ministers would be treated as cybercrime.

"It has come to our notice that (a) few persons and organisations have been making defamatory and offensive comments on social media against the government, respected ministers, parliamentarians, legislators, and government officials. This is against the law and comes under cybercrime," Nayyar Hasnain Khan, additional director general, Economic Offenses Wing, said in the letter sent to all departments and secretaries.

The opposition reacted sharply, lashing out at the government for trying to curb freedom of speech. "Bihar is the mother of democracy and everyone has the right to express his opinion under the Constitution. (Chief minister) Nitish Kumar thinks that by putting such restrictions he can hide his failures," leader of opposition Tejashwi Yadav told ET. "I challenge Nitish Kumar to arrest me for criticising and highlighting his government's failures."

However, JD U termed the order a necessity. "Those who make objectionable and unparliamentary comments in social media against government officials and ministers are only worried with this order," said JDU spokesman Rajiv Ranjan.