Facebook India Asked To Appear Before Delhi Assembly Over 2020 Riots

The letter to Facebook stated that failure to do so could lead to the initiation of proceedings for breach of privilege or contempt of the Assembly.

Raghav Chadha (File Photo)

New Delhi: The Delhi Legislative Assembly has asked Facebook India's senior representatives to depose on November 2 on the "role of social media in curbing the spread of false and malicious messages which can fan disharmony and affect peace". 

The Assembly's 'Peace and Harmony' committee will be chaired by Raghav Chadha according to an ANI report.

The Delhi Assembly had summoned Facebook India Director Ajit Mohan to appear before the committee in February this year against which Facebook India had filed a petition in the Supreme Court.

The Committee requested Facebook "to send a competent senior representative(s) and the names/ designations of representative(s) can be intimated through email before October 31 at 4 pm or before."

In the letter, Deputy Secretary (Committee) Sadanand Sah said, "Delhi had witnessed unprecedented communal disharmony and violence in February 2020. The Assembly has constituted a Committee on peace and harmony to recommend suitable measures to defuse the situation and restore harmony among religious communities, linguistic communities or social groups."

In July this year, the top court had recognised that the privileges and power of the Delhi Legislative Assembly's Committee are at par with Parliamentary privileges and those of other Legislative Assemblies.

The letter further stated, "Since Facebook has lakhs of users in Delhi, the Committee has decided to hear the views of representative(s) of Facebook India on the above subject at their sitting scheduled to be held on 2nd of November, 2021 from 12.30 pm in MLA Lounge." Failure to do so could lead to the initiation of proceedings for breach of privilege or contempt of the Assembly, said the letter.