Goalpara teacher detained for FB post on PM Modi

  • | Tuesday | 30th October, 2018

GUWAHATI: An allegedly abusive Facebook post on Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed Abu Taleb, a schoolteacher from Goalpara district , in trouble. Acting on an FIR registered against him by a local BJP leader, Goalpara Police detained him on Sunday night. He doesn't have the right to insult the Prime Minister. "We didn't expect such reckless comments from a teacher and a government employee. While employees are free to post response in their personal capacity, it is mandatory that they clearly identify themselves and should desist from divulging personal information.In July 2016, the central government had informed civil servants and officers that they were strictly not allowed to criticize the government on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp.

GUWAHATI: An allegedly abusive Facebook post on Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed Abu Taleb, a schoolteacher from Goalpara district , in trouble. Acting on an FIR registered against him by a local BJP leader, Goalpara Police detained him on Sunday night."Based on an FIR lodged by the president of Jaleswar Mandal local unit of BJP, Saddam Hussain, he (Taleb) has been picked up by police and is being interrogated at Lakhipur police station in connection with the objectionable Facebook post against the Prime Minister and BJP," said the investigating officer of Lakhipur police station.Taleb, a Hindi teacher, put up a post on Saturday correlating casting of votes in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP-fielded candidates with putting garlands to honour a dog.Police said though Saturday's post was later deleted, the accused "has been posting communal comments on social media," according to the FIR. "We are investigating all allegations levelled by the complainant," the investigating officer added.Taleb has been charged with trying to promote enmity between different groups and committing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony, criminal intimidation and printing defamatory matter.BJP leader Saddam, who lodged the FIR, said Taleb's Facebook post hurt sentiments as it was against the Prime Minister. "We didn't expect such reckless comments from a teacher and a government employee. He doesn't have the right to insult the Prime Minister. BJP wants stringent action against people posting such derogatory remarks publicly," Saddam said.The state government is on the verge of finalizing a social media usage policy to enable government employees to use modern-day platforms for interaction in an orderly way without discussing politics.Government sources said the policy is aimed at finalizing rules for government officials to desist from having "political discussions on social media in official capacities" and to restrain them from making personal comments for or against any individual or agency. While employees are free to post response in their personal capacity, it is mandatory that they clearly identify themselves and should desist from divulging personal information.In July 2016, the central government had informed civil servants and officers that they were strictly not allowed to criticize the government on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp.

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