'Murder of democracy': Cong slams govt over 'X' row

NT Correspondent

New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday alleged that democracy is being "murdered" in the country after microblogging platform X voiced disagreement with the Centre's order to block accounts and posts related to ongoing farmers' protests.

Attacking the Centre, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed the public knows that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "murdered democracy" and the public will give an answer to it.

"If farmers ask for MSP, shoot them -- is this the mother of democracy? When the youth ask for appointment, then refuse to even listen to them - this is the Mother of Democracy? If the former governor tells the truth, then send CBI to his house -- is this the mother of democracy?" he asked.

X has also called for extending freedom of expression to the affected posts.

Sources said the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has ordered social media platforms to temporarily block 177 accounts linked to the farmers' protests on the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Tagging a statement issued by X's Global Government Affairs team, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Murder Of Democracy in India."

In its statement, the microblogging platform said: "The Indian government has issued executive orders requiring X to act on specific accounts and posts, subject to potential penalties, including significant fines and imprisonment. In compliance with the orders, we will withhold these accounts and posts in India alone; however, we disagree with these actions and maintain that freedom of expression should extend to these posts."

The protesting farmer leaders put their march to Delhi on hold for two days on Wednesday after a protester was killed and about 12 police personnel were injured in clashes at one of the protest sites on the PunjabHaryana border.