YouTube removes Bengal BJP chief's videos on post-poll violence

Dilip Ghosh alleged that over 30 BJP activists were killed in 2021 post-poll clashes

West Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh near his damaged vehicle after he was allegedly attacked following an election meeting, in the Sitalkuchi area of Cooch Behar, April 7.

West Bengal Bharathiya Janata Party (BJP) president Dilip Ghosh on July 23 shared YouTube videos of purported post-poll violence in the State, but the authorities of the website removed them as they violated its community guidelines.

YouTube was compelled to remove the clippings shared by Mr. Ghosh as there were scenes of ‘brutal violence’ but that is the real situation in West Bengal, State BJP spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya claimed. In his Twitter handle, Mr. Ghosh posted the Youtube videos with a caption: "Some of the illustrious achievements of the Trinamool Congress government in past two months".

However, the visuals were soon removed by YouTube with the message: "The video has been removed for violating YouTube community guidelines." The video-sharing website removes posts that violate its community guidelines that "are designed to ensure that our community stays protected". It pulls contents for violating its policies regarding hate speech and harassment, spam and deceptive practices, violent or graphic content policy and violations of its terms of service.

Mr. Ghosh, an MP, on July 21 alleged that over 30 BJP activists were killed in post-poĺl clashes in West Bengal.

The State BJP chief was not available for comments on the deletion of the videos, Mr. Bhattacharya, however, said, "The violence was brutal, it exceeds all civilised norms. That is why YouTube is shocked and compelled to remove the videos. As stated by our party for over two years and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) now, this is the real situation of West Bengal." In an indictment of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, a committee, constituted by the NHRC on the order of the Calcutta High Court to investigate alleged human rights violations during post-poll violence, had said in its report that the situation in the State is a manifestation of "Law of Ruler" instead of "Rule of Law".

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on July 22 claimed that BJP was using fake videos to back up its "concocted stories" about post-poll violence.