Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien said in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was following certain trolls on Twitter that had “venomous, misogynist” stuff, besides issuing “murderous threats.” He wanted to know whether the government was sending advisory to those holding high office.
However, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said no curbs could be imposed on anyone in a free country like India, where there is freedom of speech and expression. During question hour, Mr. O’Brien said: “There are certain trolls on digital media who broadcast venomous messages, misogynist stuff and murderous threats on social media. The Prime Minister is following certain unknown people on digital media who broadcast such stuff, though he is not writing anything wrong. Is the government sending an advisory to such high authorities not to follow such trolls who are speaking rape and misogynist threats under the guise of anonymity?”
Mr. Ahir said: “India is a free country, and there is freedom of speech and expression. There is no provision in our Constitution to impose any curbs on anyone.” To this, Mr. O’Brien said: “None of us want that [the freedom of expression] to be curbed.” But, he expressed dissatisfaction with Mr. Ahir’s reply.
Attacks on journalists
During supplementaries, answering a question on the attacks on journalists nationwide, Mr. Ahir dismissed the suggestion that such attacks were on the rise. He said 114 incidents of attacks on journalists were reported during 2014, and in 2015, 28 cases were registered. He said the data on attacks on journalists (under Sections 325, 326, 326A and 326 B of the IPC) had been maintained by the National Crime Records Bureau since 2014. Such issues, he said, were dealt with by the State governments, and the Press Council of India can look into them.
Mr. Ahir said that except U.P. and West Bengal, all the States were providing information on this count. “In 2014, there were 63 cases of attacks on journalists in U.P. This year, there is only one case registered. We have not received any report of attack on journalists from West Bengal. Except U.P. and West Bengal, all the States are informing us,” he said.
