Maha Cong condemns Twitter’s move to block leaders’ handles

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Congress has condemned Twitter India’s move to block the handles of its party leaders and alleged that the social media platform was succumbing to the pressure from the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). Twitter also locked the handles of the Congress’s Maharashtra unit and state revenue minister and senior leader Balasaheb Thorat.

Alleging that the handles of the Congress leaders have been blocked for supporting their leader Rahul Gandhi. Thorat said the move was an attempt to suppress the fundamental right of freedom to expression. “My Twitter handle has been locked by @Twitterindia for supporting Rahulji Gandhi’s stand on the rape victim of Delhi. After Rahulji’s account was locked, the platform has locked the handles of other leaders including mine and that of @Incmaharashtra. We have been talking in the interest of the common people. Is standing firm in support of the rape victim a crime (sic),” Thorat questioned.

Twitter had recently suspended Gandhi’s handle after he tweeted photos of the family of a nine-year-old girl who was allegedly raped and killed in Delhi.

Party’s Maharashtra chief Nana Patole said that the action against the Congress and its leaders by the microblogging site was taken because the party had effectively used the platform against the Narendra Modi government. “The government has been trying to suppress every single voice raised against it in the past seven years. There is no action by Twitter against BJP leader who use it for the divisive, antisocial and hate messages,” he said.

Maharashtra BJP vice-president Madhav Bhandari said, “Twitter had taken action against BJP leaders too in the past. Under whose pressure had Twitter acted then? The suspension of Gandhi’s account has come on the heels of a hearing in the Apex court and for the violation of the code.”