BPR&D Guidelines-Red Flags in Minority Linked Fake News

BPR&D Guidelines:The Union Home Ministry India is setting guidelines to interpret fake news amid the COVID19 pandemic that could cause a stir among the people. The report red-flagged the targeting of minorities over the pandemic and mentioned the audio of the Tablighi Jamaat chief in its discussion on fake audio, has been pulled down within a day of being posted online.

The Bureau of Police Research & Development issued 40-page guidelines for law enforcement agencies on its official website on Saturday and removed it on Sunday following a doctored audiotape of the Tablighi Jamaat Chief Maulana Saad instructing his followers to not follow social distancing norms.

The infamous chief has been on the police radar ever since the devotees who visited the Tablighi Jamaat despite restrictions imposed by the Central government and numerous state governments were responsible for the spread of the coronavirus pandemic throughout the country.

An FIR was registered against Saad and others under the Epidemic Disease Act 1897 in connection with the congregation held at Markaz Tablighi Jamaat in the Nizamuddin area of Delhi last month.

The Delhi Crime Branch has reportedly even raided the chief’s house where he was reported absconding. He is allegedly said to be in self-quarantine.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also registered a money laundering case against Saad and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on a predicate offense registered by Delhi Police. 

BPR&D guidelines on page 10 figures a reference to the Tablighi Jamaat chief’s audio , under the headline “Fake news and disinformation vectors.”

Para V says:

“Fake/Viral Audios: In the present scenario, viral/fake newsmongers may create voice content and spread it across social networking channels.”

This is followed by a screenshot with the partially masked words,

“T… Jama… Leaked Audio on Covid19 Lockdown”, and the caption “A voice clip of religious leader who violated lockdown rules that went viral ” Once the text was extracted from the guide, the words were clear: “Tablighi Jamaat chief’s leaked audio on COVID-19 lockdown”.

The guidelines also contained other instances of fake news incriminating minorities being circulated, including a video where people were found licking plates and spoons.

The truth cannot be hidden that the Tablighi devotees have been crucial in the mass spread of the coronavirus in the country, where 91% of cases registered in Tamil Nadu is Tablighi related and over 85% of cases in Maharashtra.

However, this incident has given a free pass for radicals to incite hate and intolerance against a minority group. In a large democracy such as ours, opinions change by the minute and it is essential to stay neutral when it comes to controversies regarding a particular faith.