Congress questions Election Commission about removal of social media posts on electoral bonds

The Congress on Wednesday questioned the Election Commission’s decision to order the removal of posts on electoral bonds from social media platform X, alleging that the poll panel did so because discussing the now-scrapped scheme makes the government “extremely uncomfortable”, The Hindu reported.

On Tuesday, X said that it had taken down four posts by political parties and leaders – including one by a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader – for the remainder of the Lok Sabha elections period in compliance with the Election Commission’s orders.

On Wednesday, Supriya Shrinate, the head of the Congress’ social media department, said that the Election Commission should regulate hate speech, religious references, and crass and vulgar statements.

“So, that is why it is very surprising that the EC chose to get a tweet deleted which raised the issue of electoral bonds,” Shrinate told reporters. “Why would they do that? One does not understand but obviously electoral bonds is an issue which makes the government extremely uncomfortable.”

The Congress leader said that in the past, the social media accounts of farmer leaders, associations and independent journalists were all “restricted” during the farmers’ movement, even when the Information Technology rules were sub judice. “I do want to raise that there is a pattern as far as social media platforms are concerned,”...

Read more