Centre Issues Warning on False Content Ahead of Ram Temple Consecration in Ayodhya

The Centre issues an advisory against false content ahead of Ayodhya's Ram Temple consecration on January 22, emphasizing the risk to communal harmony. The 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony, featuring a 1.5-tonne idol of Lord Ram, will witness Prime Minister Modi's rituals and a star-studded attendance.

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The Centre has issued a crucial advisory cautioning media outlets, including digital platforms, against disseminating false and provocative content in the lead-up to the Ram Temple consecration in Ayodhya on January 22. The advisory applies to newspapers registered under the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, private satellite television channels, digital media publishers, and social media platforms.

In preparation for the grand celebration of Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha on January 22, 2024, across India, the advisory emphasizes the need for vigilance. It underscores the surge in unverified, provocative, and fake messages circulating on social media that pose a threat to communal harmony and public order. The Centre cites relevant provisions of the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995, and Norms of Journalistic Conduct outlined by the Press Council of India and incorporated into the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

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Newspapers, private satellite TV channels, and digital media publishers are urged to exercise caution and abstain from publishing or telecasting content that could be false, manipulated, or have the potential to disrupt communal harmony or public order. Social media platforms are reminded of their due diligence obligations and advised to exert reasonable efforts to avoid hosting, displaying, or publishing misleading information.

As the nation anticipates the 'Pran Pratishtha' of Shri Ram Lalla at Ayodhya's temple on January 22, the idol, intricately crafted by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj, stands 51 inches tall and weighs a substantial 1.5 tonnes. The portrayal of Lord Ram as a five-year-old child standing on a lotus, all carved from the same stone, adds a divine touch. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to perform the rituals during the 'Pran Pratishtha,' with a team of priests led by Lakshmikant Dixit overseeing the main rituals. The ceremony promises to be a star-studded affair, with invitations extended to several celebrities and prominent personalities.