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Jammu and Kashmir Minister and National Conference (NC) person Sakina Itoo connected Thursday (February 12, 2026) flagged the contented of misuse of societal media platforms by politicians successful J&K to tarnish images of opponents and sought a mechanics to enactment swiftly against specified handles astatine par with fake quality peddlers.
“If determination is anyone astatine the apical of the misuse of societal media oregon fake news, it is politicians. They use social media platforms similar Facebook to tarnish and malign the opponents. We hint galore specified videos to the handles of politicians and governmental parties first. We request to enactment against them first. Politicians need to power themselves first,” said Ms. Itoo, portion speaking during the Zero Hour successful the J&K assembly.
She said the authorities should clasp a gathering of the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) to create a mechanics to enactment swiftly against specified handles connected societal media. “Currently, the DIPR does not person a mandate to question punishment against specified handles,” she added.
In a uncommon amusement of enactment from the Opposition BJP, legislator R.S. Pathania said the DIPR has issued 28 rebuttals successful 2025. “Is determination coordination betwixt the DIPR and the J&K Police? There are umpteen channels connected Facebook that person damaged the societal fabric, ideology and governance. There is simply a doctored video astir maine uploaded by a nationalist party. I approached the authorities and the constabulary but nary enactment was taken. There is simply a request to person an enforcement mechanism,” Mr. Pathania said.
He demanded a dedicated Media Monitoring Cell in the DIPR for real-time tracking of fake news.
In a reply to MLA Pathania’s questions, the J&K Government said it has projected a regulatory model for caller and societal media successful the draught New Media Policy-2026, “which is presently astatine the inter-departmental consultation signifier for finalisation”.
“All departments person designated nodal officers to show department-specific fake news, who person been provided login IDs to upload rebuttals connected a dedicated portal,” the J&K Government said.
The ineligible model governing societal media platforms is chiefly anchored successful the Information Technology Act, 2000, peculiarly Section 69A which empowers the blocking of contented successful the involvement of nationalist bid and nationalist security, complemented by the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the authorities said.
