It is really intriguing that there are certain entities in the country having vested interests in creating mayhem and anarchy. It is understandable that the government has come up with a rebuttal to the claims made on social media that a sharp increase in petrol and diesel prices is on the cards. The centre has termed this viral social media post as bogus and without any basis by stating that no such order has been issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
According to the Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check Section, the document circulating online falsely states that petrol prices have been increased by Rs 10 and diesel by Rs 12.50. This incident has once again proved that there are certain forces in the country which are trying to destabilize India through such tactics and therefore it is imperative that the people should stay vigilant against such ploys meant for spreading anarchy in the country.
It is laudable that the government has come out with a timely clarification because the viral message has gained traction across social media platforms, raising concerns over misinformation related to fuel pricing. People in the country should make it a habit to believe only official orders and such claims when they are issued by the authorized sources and verified channels. Besides, it is equally important that such content should not be shared further because it has the potential to destabilize the situation as people have become wary due to the military conflict in West Asia, where the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted the supply of fuel across the countries. When people use social media, there should be only one thumb rule: believe only content shared by the government sources or verified channels or else things could take a dangerous turn as this powerful media can prove disastrous when used ‘blindly’ and without due care.
The government on the other hand should take a step further by identifying those who have broadcast this unfounded and misleading message to disturb the calm in the society and take strict legal action to deter them and others from doing this misdemeanor in the future.
The public should be doubly sure when encountering messages that appear to carry official orders or announcements. It is advisable that such messages should not be forwarded mindlessly as it is not the public’s responsibility, rather the government knows how to publicize important messages among the society, and therefore this responsibility should be left to those at the helm.
