Leaders React Strongly As Jack Dorsey Claims India 'Pressurised' Twitter During Farmers’ Protest

Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has claimed the Indian government pressurised the micro-blogging platform during the farmers' protest. The Centre has rubbished the claims.

Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has said that the Indian government pressurised the micro-blogging platform to ‘block’ many accounts during farmer protests and even threatened to close its offices, and raid the homes of employees if Twitter did not comply. Here is how leaders are reacting to this:

In an interview with a YouTube news channel Breaking Points, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey said that Twitter received many requests to block accounts covering farmers’ protests, and journalists critical of the government. (Source: Getty)

Union Minister for Electronics and Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar reacted to Twitter Co-founder Jack Dorsey's statement and said his comments are an outright lie. Chandrasekhar said Twitter is a company that believed it was not necessary for it to comply with Indian laws. (Source: ANI)

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar also said Twitter was misusing its power as a platform to selectively de-amplify and de-platform people both in India and abroad. (Source: ANI )

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur also reacted strongly to Dorsey’s claims and said that his comments were a blatant lie. Thakur said Jack Dorsey woke up after years of sleep and wants to cover up his misdeeds. (Source: Getty)

Former IT Minister Ravishankar Prasad said during that time, Twitter didn't comply with Indian laws. He said it is clear that all social media platforms are respected in India but they have to abide by the law of the land, reported ANI. (Source: PTI)

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said the farmers' protest was not receiving the same kind of reach expected on Facebook and Twitter. He said the government used to try to stop it at their level and that Dorsey is correct in what he said. (Source: PTI)

Uddhav Thackeray faction leader and MP Sanjay Raut commented on Dorsey’s claims and said democracy and freedom in the country is under threat, reported ANI. (Source: ANI)

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal backed Dorsey's claim and said he sees no reason for the former Twitter CEO to tell a lie. (Source: PTI)

Congress MP Manish Tewari said Jack Dorsey’s comments are not surprising at all. He said in the past nine years, there has been a systematic erosion of the freedom of speech and expression and civil liberties in the country. (Source: PTI)

Congress party Chairperson of Social Media and Digital Platforms Supriya Shrinate also reacted very strongly and said the government is murdering democracy in India. (Source: PTI)