Panaji, Jul 16 (TOI): Issuing a warning about the circulation of fake news through social media, chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday said that the people should realise that fake news or rumours can be dangerous. Parrikar's statement comes even as locals have begun to share posts about the use of formalin in fish sold in Goa.

"I was forced to issue a statement on the presence of formalin in fish to stop the panic in the state following the circulation of rumours," Parrikar said at the Goa IT Day event on Sunday. "People should realise that fake news does more harm or a rumour can do more harm," the chief minister said. "I was keeping quiet initially (on the unsafe fish issue) but finally I had to say don't worry I am monitoring it. That (issuing a statement) was required because the people had stopped eating fish. How can Goans live without fish?" Parrikar also lamented that while people wanted mobile network penetration in the rural areas, people continued to oppose installation of mobile towers in their villages.