Arrogance of Twitter didn’t work: Guru Prakash Paswan

BJP spokesperson in conversation with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now

GN Bureau | August 16, 2021


#Twitter   #technology   #Twitter   #Congress   #BJP   #Guru Prakash Paswan  


BJP spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan has said if people want to do business in the country, they have to follow the law of land. Speaking with reference to the US-based Twitter’s friction with the government on accusations of spreading misinformation and appointment of country-based grievances officers, Paswan said after a long-drawn battle the social media company was forced to comply and the credit goes to the government of India.

“We never had any issues with Twitter doing business In India. We believe in ease of business and earning revenue. But they must empower users. Now weather it is Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, or Facebook; if someone wants to file a complaint will they have go to their office in the United States. We only asked Twitter to appoint a compliance/grievances officer who is locally stationed in India. There was difference of opinion. Now after a long battle they have complied. Kudos and credit for this goes to the government of India, for making them come to this agreement. If people want to do business in the country, they must follow the rule of the land,” said Paswan.

He was in a conversation with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now, during the webcast of Visionary Talk series held by public policy and governance analysis platform.

On Twitter blocking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s account, he said earlier the same people enjoyed media-manipulated content, now they are crying hoarse over.

Watch the video:



Responding to the statement that when the government was against Twitter they (Congress) were with Twitter, now that Twitter is against them, they are opposing Twitter, Paswan said, “The government was never against Twitter. The government was willing to have a conversation with them… which might appear confrontational to them, but the conversation was positive and engaging. Yes, it (Twitter) did not agree to some of our observations at the very outset and it was a long-drawn struggle keeping in mind interest of the users that were based in India.”

He said first the Congress leader breaks the law of the land by violating Section 23 of Juvenile Justice Act 2015 and Section 74 of POCSO Act, 2012 by making identity of the victim public and then stubbornly does not deleting it. “This shows their arrogance and [lack of] integrity... they think they are above law of land.”

Asked to respond to allegations by the opposition that the BJP has brought 90% of the media, Paswan said that is not true and those who are saying this are misleading. Leaving aside the media, he said in the last 40-50 years you will see that the ecosystem in the country which was setting the narrative for the country is active even today. “This is not a BJP or Congress issue but a separate ecosystem is running its own agenda in the country.”

Explaining it further he said the narrative is set somewhere else “...if you see The New York Times... The Washington Times… you will find the same narrative... this narrative starts form there and slowly and gradually is presented as truth... media is an important institution... media has always played a prominent role, even during emergency, it played an important role. It is the fourth pillar of democracy,” he said.   

Asked if there is a possibility of Chirag Pawan and Tejaswi Yadav coming together in the Bihar elections, Paswan who an assistant professor in Patna University said entitlement will not work now. “If you are someone’s son or daughter it is not going to work... people on ground are asking questions. Politics has now moved beyond family and dynasty politics which is good.”

 

Comments

 

Other News

India’s overall exports cross all-time high of $750 billion

India’s overall exports, including services and merchandise, have crossed US$750 billion, minister of commerce and industry Piyush Goyal has announced. This is an all-time high and this achievement comes in the 75th year of independence as we celebrate the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Addr

Climate actions being implemented to deal with impact of heat waves

India’s climate actions cut across various sectors and are being implemented through various programs and schemes of different union ministries, departments and state/ union territory governments.  The government of India through concerned ministries and departments organises workshops, exhibiti

Banks must hear borrowers before declaring their accounts as frauds: SC

In a judgment with far-reaching implications, the Supreme Court has held that the civil consequences of an account being declared as fraud under the Reserve Bank of India (Frauds Classification and Reporting by Commercial Banks and Select FIs) Directions, 2016 or its Master Directions on Fraud amount to ci

India’s forest cover increases by 5,516 sq km in four years

The Dehradun-based Forest Survey of India (FSI), an organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, carries out the assessment of forest cover biennially since 1987 and the findings are published in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR). As per the latest ISFR 2021, there is a

Steps taken to meet higher power demand of April-May

While the average growth of energy requirement in the country for 2023-24 viz-a-viz 2022-23 has been estimated as 4.9%, the months of April and May have been projected as high demand period. During the current year, the peak demand is expected to be around 229 GW during the summer period. The government ha

Millets to make comeback in army ration after half a century

As the UN has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets, the Indian Army has steered introduction of millets flour in the rations of soldiers. This landmark decision will ensure troops are supplied with native and traditional grains after over half a century, when these were discontinued in favour

Visionary Talk: Amitabh Gupta, Pune Police Commissioner with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now


Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook    Twitter    Google Plus    Linkedin    Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter