Issues like framing laws to check the menace of fake news leading to communal strife in some parts of the country, regulation of online games as they are harming gullible children and photograph of Mahatma Gandhi displayed on whiskey bottle figured in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
Raising the issue of fake news on social media like twitter, Digvijaya Singh(Congress) demanded a law to regulate the social media as fake news is triggering communal riots and societal divide is being created. He also said fake news is more dangerous than terrorism adding "Many people (tweeting fake news) are followed by big people," without naming anyone.
The Congress leader sought a comprehensive law so that indecent language and spread of communal poison is checked on social media. Terming the issue as important, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said there is a need to evolve a consensus else there will be allegations of trampling freedom of expression.
Drawing the attention of the house to danger posed by online gaming, Vinay Sahasrabuddhe(BJP) said children between the age group of five to eight years were falling prey to it. He said some countries like China and Australia have already taken steps to check the misuse of online gaming.
Sanjay Singh(AAP)brought up the matter of Mahatma Gandhi's photograph on whiskey bottles reportedly manufactured in Israel and termed it as objectionable. He said Gandhiji throughout his life propagated non-violence and preached against ill-affects of alcohol consumption. He urged the external affairs ministry to take note of the matter and demanded immediate stop of sale of such bottles in India. Several Opposition members including leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad associated themselves with Singh. Naidu asked External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who was present in the House, to take note.
N Gokulakrishnan (AIADMK) demanded extending of the 25 per cent reservation to natives and locals of a state in all the 48 central universities. He said 25 per cent reservation for locals in all courses in Pondicherry University has not been implemented despite the academic executive council accepting such a move in 2013-14. Ram Nath Thakur (JD-U) wanted rules to check mushrooming coaching centres.
T K Rangarajan (CPM) criticised the move to corporatise production units of Indian Railways.
Saroj Pandey (BJP) wanted yoga to be included as part of compulsory education.