BJP alleges RaGa’s hand behind ex-Twitter CEO’s ‘pressure’ claims

BJP leaders’ allege a Congress toolkit behind Dorsey’s “anti-India” comments

NEW DELHI | Updated: 13 June, 2023 5:07 pm IST
Dorsey's claims coincide with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's US visit.

NEW DELHI: Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was behind the well-timed claims of Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey who claimed the Modi government pressurized the platform to silence critical voices.

Calling Dorsey’s claims that the Centre threatened to raid its officers and shut down their business in India if they don’t ban certain journalists during the 2021 farmers’ protest, senior BJP leaders accused Dorsey of collaborating with the disqualified Congress MP and undermining India’s sovereignty.

Leading the charge was BJP leader Kapil Mishra, who expressed suspicion over the timing of Dorsey’s comments, coinciding with Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the United States. “This is the Congress’s spice in the daal of Jack Dorsey. The khichdi that was cooked during the visit of Rahul Gandhi to America is now being served,” he said.

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He further criticized Gandhi for seeking validation from Dorsey, who had previously expressed controversial views regarding Indian society.

BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya accused Twitter of operating arbitrarily under Dorsey’s leadership, considering itself above the law in every country. Malviya insinuated a connection between Gandhi’s undisclosed meetings in the US and Dorsey’s statements, questioning whether Dorsey was part of the Congress party’s toolkit.

In his interview, Dorsey had stated that Twitter received numerous requests from the Indian government regarding the farmers’ protest and journalists critical of the government.

He highlighted the pressure tactics used, such as threats to shut down Twitter in India, raids on employees’ homes, and potential office closures if the company did not comply.

Responding to Dorsey’s claims, Union minister of state for electronics and information, Rajeev Chandrasekhar accused Twitter, under Dorsey’s leadership, of repeatedly violating Indian law between 2020 and 2022. He clarified that no employees were raided or jailed, asserting that the government sought compliance with Indian laws to maintain its sovereign rights.

ALSO READ: Ex-Twitter boss’ claim proof of censorship on RaGa, Oppn: Congress

Chandrasekhar further accused Twitter of refusing to remove misinformation, including false reports alleging genocide in India. The government’s intervention aimed to prevent the spread of such misinformation and the resulting escalation of tensions.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that Dorsey’s statement was part of Rahul Gandhi’s campaign to stir up India’s criticism on foreign soils.

Meanwhile, Union minister Anurag Thakur slammed Dorsey’s claim by stating that “several foreign forces wake up when elections approach India”.

Union minister of state for defence, Ajay Bhatt called Dorsey’s comments as a part of foreign conspiracy against India.

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