New Delhi: Demands to frame a law to regulate fake news and indecent language on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook were made in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday (July 2).

Raising the issue through a "Zero Hour mention", Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said that communal riots and societal divide are being created by the circulation of fake news on social media. "Studies have shown that fake news is more dangerous than terrorism," he said.

He said, lies and indecent language used on Twitter and other social media trigger communal riots and create societal divide. "Many people (tweeting fake news) are followed by big people," he said without naming anyone.

He demanded a comprehensive law so that indecent language and spread of communal poison is checked on social media.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said the issue raised was essential, but there is a need to evolve a consensus else there will be allegations of trampling freedom of expression.

In another issue raised, N Gokulakrishnan (AIADMK) demanded up to 25% reservation to natives and locals in all the 48 central universities.

He said 25 % reservation for locals in all courses in Pondicherry University had not been implemented despite the academic executive council accepting such a move in 2013-14.

With regards to online gaming, Vijay P Sahasrabuddhe (BJP) wanted the government to come out with safety guidelines to check abuse and addiction to online gaming.

He said, China provides for showing no blood in games and that Australia has banned 220 games and South Korea does not permit some games to be played by children below 16 years. "It is essential to formulate guidelines for online gaming for the safety of children," he said.

Raising another issue, TK Rangarajan (CPM) criticised the move to corporatize production units of Indian Railways.

Indian Railways is looking to hive off its rolling stock and locomotive production units and associated workshops into a new government-owned entity called Indian Railway Rolling Stock Company.

Corporatisation will lead to denial of the reservation to SC/ST and OBCs as such a provision does not apply to private entities, he said.

While Saroj Pandey (BJP) wanted yoga to be included as part of compulsory education, Satyanarayan Jatiya (BJP) wanted service lanes to be constructed along highways and safety provisions such as ambulances to be provided.