Microblogging site Twitter has been arbitrarily suspending accounts like legal rights organisation Legal Rights Observatory (LRO), Dalit and OBC Rights initiative Dalit Positive Movement (DPM) and Sankardev Samiti.
Both LRO and DPM had allegedly shared a report by Russian news outlet Sputnik before getting banned. The report accused Twitter of having an anti-Hindu bias when it banned Rashmi Samant’s Twitter account. Samant’s account was later restored.
Ratan Sharda, an author and freelance columnist affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) tweeted about the ban and stated that both the organisations are filing complaints against Twitter with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Gross violation of Freedom of Expression!@LegalLro & @DalitPositive twitter accounts are suspended by @TwitterIndia for sharing Sputnik Report on US Hindu Student #RashmiSamant.
I am told they are filing complaint with @GoI_MeitY#BringbackLRO#BringbackDalitPositive
— Ratan Sharda 🇮🇳 (@RatanSharda55) March 11, 2021
#URGENT @LegalLro& @DalitPositive twitter accounts suspended by @TwitterIndia
LRO had shared Sputnik Report on US Hindu student Rashmi Samant whose Twitter account was suspended n later restored.
Voices of Hindus are now supressed
Will Move Court of Law against @TwitterIndia pic.twitter.com/XtRFskZUrF— Kalinga Rights Forum (@KalingaForum) March 11, 2021
The LRO is a volunteer organisation and is allegedly affiliated with the RSS. The LRO has, in the past, been fighting legal battles against Maoist insurgents, Christian missionaries and evangelical organisations active in northeastern India, organisations and individuals protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and several others. The LRO has highlighted illegal financial transactions and in other criminal activities indulged in by various individuals and organisations.
The National Convenor of DPM had written a strongly worded letter to Twitter accusing the microblogging site of arbitrarily suspending the account with malicious intent and said that such strong arm tactics to muzzle voices would attract SC/ST Prevention Act.
Below is the appeal that we had sent to Twitter today for arbitrarily suspending DPM account on fictitious grounds. Even now with the account restored our follower list was again arbitrarily deleted and made to a "0". This has caused immense mental trauma to the entire DPM team. pic.twitter.com/J6c99JBEW7
— Dalit Positive Movement (@DalitPositive) March 11, 2021
Both LRO and DPM’s accounts have now been restored. However, the account of Shankardev Sewa Samiti remains suspended. Sankardev Sewa Samiti is a government registered NGO which has been felicitated by Government of Assam for its exemplary service during COVID19. The Kalinga Rights Forum has now lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Electronics and IT for taking action against Twitter and has sought a ban on the tech giant.
@TwitterIndia now Suspends a Govt registered NGO @SankardevSamiti who is felicitated by @mygovassam for exemplary Relief work during COVID19 Crisis reaching out to Poor & Needy
Filed complaint with @GoI_MeitY to take Stringent Action & ban @TwitterIndia Operations in INDIA pic.twitter.com/aZaM7RftNS
— Kalinga Rights Forum (@KalingaForum) March 11, 2021
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