Twitter blocks BJP MP Tejasvi Surya's tweet following 'govt request'

Twitter blocks BJP MP Tejasvi Surya's tweet following 'government request'. The PM Modi-led government had faced a severe diplomatic backlash from Arab countries following Surya's tweet linking Islam directly to terrorism.

New Delhi: At the request of the central government, the micro blogging social media site Twitter has 'withheld' 121 posts from its platform, which were tweeted by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya following diplomatic backlash from the Arab countries. According to reports, the development came into light through Twitter’s filing with a third party database.

Out of 121 tweets, BJP MP from Karnataka’s South Bangalore feed is also included to be withheld from viewing in India after social media company received request from ministry of IT and communication.

Tejasvi Surya's tweet stand 'withheld' in India after government request

As per sources, the notice was sent on April 28 and reported to Lumen by Twitter on May 3. Lumen database collects and analyse legal complaints and requests for removal of online content.

The government had made request under Section 69 A of IT Act 2000. This section provides for blocking public access to information when the “central government or any of its officer specially authorised by it in this behalf is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient to do so in integrity and sovereignty of India, security of state, defence of India, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to commission of any cognizable offence relating to above.”

The controversial tweet by Tejasvi Surya is now withheld in India but can be accessed in other countries. “In short, terror has no religion. But the terrorist definitely has a religion, and in most cases it’s Islam,” Surya had tweeted.

It was tweeted in July 2015 which links Islam directly to terrorism. As per sources IT and Electronics ministry issues regular blocking orders to Twitter most of which are related to Kashmir.

Most of the tweets requested to withheld are regarding Hindu-Muslim relations. Other tweets in list include ones from Shefali Vaidya, Parody account of Ranjan Gogoi (former CJI).

The tweets of young MP were called out by member of royal family of UAE recently and one Twitter user even asked to drop membership of Surya. The Organisation of Islamic countries (OIC) had also issued statement to check rising “Islamophobia” in India.