BJP slams Jack Dorsey: Accuses Twitter of defying Indian law

In a dramatic spectacle that has ignited a political conflagration, Jack Dorsey, the ex-CEO of Twitter, has found himself marred by controversy following a whirlwind of accusations against the Indian government. Dorsey shockingly claimed that during India’s farmer protests, the government had strong-armed Twitter into suppressing dissenting accounts, threatening complete shutdown and raiding the homes of its employees. A profound denial from Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar swiftly followed, decrying these accusations as outright fabrications.
Dorsey, who has an infamous track record of strident disregard for legal compliance, had routinely placed Twitter on a collision course with the Indian government during his reign. He unapologetically positioned himself as the champion of free speech, while ironically, failing to uphold the fundamental principles of transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law.
Twitter’s inexcusable non-compliance with India’s IT (Amendment) Act 2021 sparked several controversies, pushing the social media giant into the eye of a fierce legal storm. The company, under Dorsey, audaciously violated the Act’s requirements to establish an efficient grievance redressal mechanism and blatantly ignored orders to act against objectionable content, ranging from child pornography to misinformation. India’s IT minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, was even locked out of his own account without any prior intimation, triggering an uproar.
Adding to the fiasco, Twitter twice misrepresented India’s map, portraying Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh as separate countries. An action that led to severe backlash and legal consequences. Despite clear instruction to rectify this gross misrepresentation, Twitter under Dorsey, turned a blind eye. A pertinent question arises here: Was Twitter really a champion of free speech or just an arrogant entity, neglecting sovereign laws, and promoting selective censorship?
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been relentless in its criticism of Dorsey’s unjustifiable actions. Amit Malviya, the head of BJP’s IT cell, vehemently lashed out at Dorsey, highlighting Twitter’s blatant disregard for sovereign laws and its role in stoking social fault lines. Echoing the sentiment, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar denounced Dorsey’s claims as a desperate attempt to sweep Twitter’s dubious history under the rug.
Opposition parties, predictably, latched onto Dorsey’s accusations to hurl allegations at the government. However, these claims hold little water, especially considering Twitter’s well-documented history of law violations and its stubborn refusal to comply with Indian regulations.
In a resounding affirmation of India’s commitment to rule of law, the government’s position remains unwavering. As a sovereign nation, India has the inalienable right to enforce its laws on every entity operating within its borders. If Twitter, under Dorsey’s reign, chose to flaunt these laws, the blame squarely lies with them, not with the government for upholding its duty.
Dorsey’s irresponsible allegations have ignited a fierce debate about the balance between free speech and sovereign laws. However, the crux of the matter remains – irrespective of Twitter’s international standing, its disrespect for Indian laws under Dorsey’s leadership was a brazen act of defiance, undermining the very principles it claimed to uphold. And for that, Dorsey and Twitter will remain under the relentless glare of rightful scrutiny.