Union Minister lashes out at Congress over Facebook row; asks Rahul Gandhi to 'introspect'

Amid war-of-words between BJP and Congress over Rahul Gandhi's line of questioning on Facebook controversy and PM CARES, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said that former Congress chief's party should be last to 'sermonise on democratic values & rms'. Taking to Twitter, Puri added that Rahul Gandhi and or Congress leaders should look at ir party's history before speaking on democratic values as it has been 'a death chamber of dissent, right to expression and internal democracy.'

Calling Congress a 'headless party'  which is currently in midst of a 'civil war', Hardeep Singh Puri said that anyone who dissents is shown door. He was referring to recent Rajasthan controversy wherein Sachin Pilot was removed from post after he revolved and case of suspended Congress member Sanjay Jha. Furrmore, Civil Aviation Minister called Rahul Gandhi 'w on w off' leader whose party was t able to get 100 seats in last two Lok Sabha polls.  has t been able to muster 100 seats in last two general elections. Puri added that Rahul's own party is a death chamber of dissent, right to expression, hence it is important for him to 'introspect & perhaps change his set of advisors.'

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Rahul Gandhi lashes out at BJP

Earlier on Monday, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi alleged that 'BJP & RSS controlled Facebook' while opining on a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report on hate-speech on Facebook. He claimed that 'American media had finally come out with truth about Facebook'. Gandhi, who has been continually critical of Modi government alleged that BJP spread fake news and hatred through Facebook to influence electorate. Facebook has currently invested a whopping $5.7 billion in Mukesh Ambani-owned Jio platforms, raking a 9.9% stake in company.

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What does WSJ report claim?

American newspaper Wall Street Journal claimed that BJP's Telangana MLA T Raja Singh had often made communal and incendiary speeches that were posted on Facebook, clashing with company's hate speech rules. report claims that inspite of posts allegedly violating Facebook's hate-speech rules and qualifying as dangerous, Facebook India's top public-policy executive Ankhi Das had claimed that punishing violations by BJP would 'dam company's business prospects in India'. Apart from Singh, three or BJP leaders or Hindutva groups were allegedly flagged by Facebook for hate-speech. 

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report furr points out that Facebook has faced issues to launch its telecommunications service - Free Basics in 2016 from Modi government, as it violated net neutrality. report furr stated that while some of Singh's posts were removed by Facebook, social media giant has demoted Singh's account to a n-verified, ufficial account without a blue tick.Citing preferential treatment by Facebook, WSJ points to removal of thousands of Congress-linked Pakistan military posts and several BJP-linked fake news ps prior to Lok Sabha elections. While Facebook publically disclosed deletion of Congress-linked accounts, it allegedly did t disclose removal of BJP-linked posts.

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