Arrogance Of Twitter Didn’t Work: BJP Spokesperson, Guru Prakash Paswan To Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now

BJP Spokesperson, Guru Prakash Paswan spoke on Centre's tussle with Twitter and said that after a long drawn battle the social media company was forced to comply with the rules of Indian govt.

Guru Prakash Paswan, BJP Spokesperson and Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now

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 whether it is Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, or Facebook if someone wants to file a complaint will they have to 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 a difference of opinion. Now after a long battle, they have complied. Kudos and credit for this go 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 Pawan.

He was in a conversation with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now during the webcast of the Visionary Talk series held by the 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 it.

Responding to the statement that when govt was against Twitter they (Congress) were with Twitter, now that Twitter is against them,  they are opposing twitter, Paswan said, “Govt was never against Twitter. Govt 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 the interest of the users that were based in India.”

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

On being asked to respond to allegations by the opposition says 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 from there and slowly and gradually is presented as truth .. media is an important institution .. the media has always played a prominent role…. even during emergencies, it played an important role. It is the fourth pillar of democracy’’ he said.   

On being asked if there is a possibility of Chirag Pawan and Tejaswi Yadav coming together in the Bihar elections, Paswan who is an assistant professor in Patna University said, elections are no longer living in denial of feudalism. Now entitlement will not work. If you are someone’s son or daughter it is not going to work .. people on the ground are asking questions. Politics has now moved beyond family and dynasty politics which is good.     

(This article is a paid feature and solely based upon the webinar held between Guru Prakash Paswan, National Spokesperson, BJP, and Kailashnath Adhikari, Governance Now, MD on Governance & Nation in its Visionary Talk. ABP and/or ABP LIVE does not endorse/ subscribe to the views expressed herein. We shall not be in any manner be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever to all that is stated in the said Article and/or also with regard to the views, opinions, announcements, declarations, affirmations, etc., stated/featured in the said Article and/or the YouTube link. Accordingly, viewer discretion is strictly advised.)