Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien launched an attack against the government in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, accusing it of starting and encouraging the culture of fake news and digital mobs.

Participating in a “calling attention” motion by the opposition parties – prompted by multiple cases of lynching in the recent past on the basis of provocative lies forwarded through messaging platforms - O’Brien said that Digital India was turning into “divisive India.”

The questions asked by the MP also included examples of websites and individuals that O’Brien said were being encouraged to spread hate.

Responding to the questions raised by O’Brien, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, and others, the Union Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government is trying to prevent abuse of social media while also retaining its character of allowing citizens to question authorities.