NEW DELHI: Maharashtra chief minister Davendra Fadnavis on Tuesday directed the state cyber police to approach Wikipedia to remove “objectionable” content about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, son of the revered Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Fadnavis said distortion of history on open-source platforms such as Wikipedia would not be tolerated.
“I have asked the Inspector General of Maharashtra cyber cell to communicate with Wikipedia officials and ask them to remove the objectionable matter against Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. We will not tolerate such writings on open-source platforms where historical facts are distorted. I have ordered the officials to take whatever steps that are required to be taken,” Fadnavis told news agency PTI.
The action by the state government comes in the backdrop of the recently-released Hindi film “Chhaava”, based on the life of Sambhaji Maharaj.
Acknowledging that Wikipedia does not operate from India, and is managed by volunteers who have editorial rights, Fadnavis said: “We can ask them to put in place some regulations that will stop such distortion of facts.”
“There is no geographical jurisdiction for social media. It was there earlier. We will discuss this with the Union government,” he said.
There is no “uncontrolled freedom of expression”, said Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio. “When obscenity crosses limits, action can be taken,” he added.
The chief minister also warned against unauthorized sharing of cabinet agenda documents before a cabinet meeting. “I have instructed the offices of ministers not to share cabinet agenda beforehand. I will have to take action if this continues. Do not break the law,” he said.