Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis.
Credit: Reuters Photo
Mumbai: In a strong statement, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday asserted that digital footprints of social media posts can be traced and people should stay away from forwarding fake messages.
"Not only the person behind the message, but also the ones who forward it can be held responsible," Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur.
"Even my own speech in the Legislative Assembly where I said that Naxalites do not believe in the country 's Constitution was distorted in such a way that it appeared I did not believe in the Constitution.. such tactics are deceitful and unacceptable,” Fadnavis said.
"Whether it is X, Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp, we can get the digital footprints. You all would have to be careful as fake forwards can make someone the co-accused," he said.
"We now have the technology to get the entire digital footprint for identifying those who are circulating such messages," said Fadnavis, who also holds the Home and Law & Judiciary portfolios.
According to him, a lot of stress is being given to cyber security and cyber awareness campaigns.
Fadnavis’ statement came a day after the Cyber police registered cases against against 12 unidentified social media users under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act for posting and sharing a maliciously edited video of Fadnavis' recent speech on Naxalism, in which he said that Maoists do not believe in the Constitution of India and democracy, and want to set up a parallel state.
Responding to Congress’s claims about EVM tampering, he said, "Congress knows EVMs are tamper-proof.. you cannot wake up someone who pretends to sleep."
"Congress should apologise to the nation for repeatedly insulting Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Their fear has always been someone rising above the Nehru-Gandhi family. By manipulating Amit Shah’s comments, they created a false narrative. BJP and Shah hold Ambedkar in the highest regard and cannot insult him even in their dreams," he asserted.