New Delhi: In an ironic turn of events, #BanTwitterInIndia began trending on Twitter barely a day after the Delhi Police tried raiding the social media website’s offices in the national capital and Gurugram.
Many were quick to point out the irony of the situation. “IT Cell Bhakts Trending #BanTwitterInIndia on Twitter,” said Congress’ Niraj Bhatia.
IT Cell Bhakts Trending #BanTwitterInIndia on Twitter ? pic.twitter.com/0uKZjncP1b
— Niraj Bhatia (@bhatia_niraj23) May 25, 2021
Low IQ Sanghis are trending #BanTwitterInIndia on Twitter ?
— Nagesh Kariyappa (@Nagesh_nsui6) May 25, 2021
“Andhbhakts are trending #BanTwitterInIndia on Twitter. Didn’t they say they were moving to Koo? They are still here?” tweeted Congress national convener Ruchira Chaturvedi.
Andhbhakts are trending #BanTwitterInIndia on Twitter. Didn't they say they were moving to Koo? They are still here?
— Ruchira Chaturvedi (@RuchiraC) May 25, 2021
Others like journalist Vir Sanghi praised the social media platform. “I have innumerable criticisms of Twitter & the way it functions. But you have to give credit to a platform which lets #BanTwitterInIndia trend on Twitter,” he said.
I have innumerable criticisms of Twitter & the way it functions.
But you have to give credit to a platform which lets #BanTwitterInIndia trend on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/OeEn79pJmy— vir sanghvi (@virsanghvi) May 25, 2021
Predictably, a BJP versus Congress battle was also simmering on the social media platform.
Communist trolls and INC leaders are trending #IStandWithTwitterIndia to save thier own skin.
I am not in favour of #BanTwitterInIndia but law of land must be respected and remain on top.
SM MNCs can't become judges but have to maintain neutral stand.#WelldoneDelhiPolice pic.twitter.com/H8lMFbob99
— khemchand sharma #Brajwasi #RadheRadhe (@SharmaKhemchand) May 25, 2021
Congress should either withdraw the complaint by its SM head Rohan Gupta and national spokesperson MV Rajeev Gowda to @DelhiPolice or stop playing politics on police investigation. If it didn't respect our laws, we should #BanTwitterInIndia https://t.co/nXKKRlch06
— विनोद बंसल (@vinod_bansal) May 25, 2021
Let's not forget that Sambit Patra put out details of a woman on his handle lying that she authored the 'Toolkit'
Toolkit was a FAKE one Manipulated by BJP.
But the woman faced massive HARASSMENT by trolls. Patra DOXXED her. It's criminal.
Twitter must BAN Patra's account.
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) May 25, 2021
In response to the #BanTwitterInIndia call, several users also began trending #IStandWithTwitterIndia as a counter by Tuesday afternoon. They lauded the social media platform for the freedom of speech and expression it offers.
Hello @narendramodi , How would youngsters express and discuss freely if Twitter will be banned in India??
#IStandWithTwitterIndia pic.twitter.com/D4gpkiCpAg
— Md Asif Khan (@imMAK02) May 25, 2021
. @Twitter is the most independent social media with high-level Transparency between Government and people!!
IMO
So,Twitter should not be banned #IStandWithTwitterIndia | Twitter pic.twitter.com/sGnwZJBdgu— Twood VIP™ (@ManiPSPKCult) May 25, 2021
We won’t stand this , won’t give up our freedom of speech & expression. ✊✊#IStandWithTwitterIndia pic.twitter.com/QofX9a1Vl2
— आज़ाद (@HarshBisaria) May 25, 2021
Also read: Ministry warning to Twitter over Sambit Patra ‘toolkit’ tweet was sent after BJP sought action
Delhi Police raids Twitter India offices
On 24 May, Delhi Police landed at the doorstep of Twitter India’s office in the national capital and Gurugram just days after the social media platform flagged tweets by BJP leaders on an alleged Congress ‘toolkit’ as “manipulated media”. The leaders had alleged that the toolkit was used to malign Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The office in Gurugram could not be located by Delhi Police, while the one in the national capital was locked since employees have been working from home owing to the second Covid-19 wave.
Delhi Police PRO Chinmoy Biswal called the raid a “routine process”, adding that “this was necessitated as we wanted to ascertain who is the right person to serve a notice, as replies by Twitter India MD have been very ambiguous”.
“A Delhi Police official said they had decided to issue a notice to Twitter after receiving complaints from Rohan Gupta, who heads the Congress’s social media department, and M V Rajeev Gowda, the party’s national spokesperson, over the BJP’s ‘toolkit’ allegations,” a report in The Indian Express noted.
Congress said the BJP’s alleging it was behind the ‘toolkit’ is false. On 19 May, Congress Chhattisgarh filed a complaint against BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh over ‘toolkit’ tweets.
Meanwhile, Tuesday also marked the end of the deadline set by the Centre for social media platforms to comply with the new Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021.
According to Rule 7, if any of these platforms fail to comply with the new rules, they would lose a layer of legal protection afforded to them, allowing any individual to “who is unhappy with content on these platforms can take both the person or the entity — who posts the content — and the social media company to court”.
Earlier this year, Twitter faced the wrath of the IT Ministry for refusing to take down selective tweets that the government believed were “spreading misinformation” and could “lead to imminent violence affecting public order situation in the country”.
Also read: Congress ‘toolkit’ to TMC arrests, news channels doing politicians’ jobs — playing politics