New Cabinet, Same Message: IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Warns Twitter, Says 'Law Of Land Supreme'

The warning comes amid Centre's tussle with Twitter over the new IT rules.

Newly sworn-in IT & Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: The information and Technology (IT) minister has changed, but messaging does not. The newly sworn-in IT Ministry head has a stern warning for micro-blogging site Twitter and all such platforms, asking them to abide by the new IT rules.

A day after taking oath, IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday said that all those who live and work in India will have to abide by the rules of the country. 

While speaking to reporters after meeting BJP general secretary (Organisation) BL Santhosh at BJP headquarters, Vaishnav said: "Whosoever lives and works in India will have to abide by the rules of the country."

"Everyone has to follow the law of the country," he added.

The warning comes amid Centre's tussle with Twitter over the new IT rules as the government says it failed to comply with laws on four counts:

Chief compliance officer not being appointed;

The position of the resident grievance officer being vacant;

The position of the nodal contact person (even on an interim basis) being vacant; and

The physical contact address, which was shown to be there on May 29, was not available on Twitter's website.

Meanwhile, microblogging and social networking service has informed the Delhi High Court that it is in the final stages of appointing a resident grievance officer in India.

In a recent hearing, the Delhi HC has said that Centre is free to take any action against Twitter if it finds the social media platform breaching the IT Rules. Matter adjourned for July 28. Twitter will file an affidavit regarding the appointment of the interim official.

In a reply submitted to the Delhi High Court, Twitter said that even before steps were taken to formalise the appointment of a grievance officer in India, the interim grievance officer had withdrawn his candidature on June 21.

After the interim resident grievance officer's resignation, Twitter had appointed California-based Jeremy Kessel as the new grievance officer for India.

However, the appointment was not in line with the new IT rules, as these rules mandate that the grievance redressal officer should be based in India.