Home Minister Priyank Kharge’s first meeting focused on fake news, city traffic

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The new Home Minister Priyank Kharge said he would review the functioning of Information Disorder Tackling Unit (IDTU), started on a pilot basis to check hate speech and the spread of misinformation on social media, next week. He was speaking to media persons after he chaired a review meeting of the Karnataka State Police on Friday.

Sources said Bengaluru’s traffic woes figured significantly in the meeting. He reportedly said he would convene another meeting to look for solutions for the traffic mess on Outer Ring Road. Incidentally, Mr. Kharge also holds charge of the Information Technology and Biotechnology Department. Sources said traffic snarls caused by signal-free corridors created for VIP movement were also discussed. Mr. Kharge told reporters after the meeting that they would explore whether measures such as signal synchronisation could help avoid such situations.

Mr. Kharge also said that they would engage with citizens, think tanks, and other organisations to address the city’s traffic issues. He told reporters that he had gathered information about the department, but it would take a few more days to gain an in-depth understanding of how it functions.