2 weeks ago
Vijayan accuses Kerala government of 'undeclared social media censorship'
There is a big argument happening in Kerala, a state in India.
A top opposition leader named Pinarayi Vijayan says the state government is hiding news on the internet.
The hidden news was about a person who was arrested in a drug case.
That person said he worked on social media for the Chief Minister.
Mr. Vijayan thinks the government is trying to protect people who sell drugs.
He also says it is not fair to stop people from seeing true news reports.
The government has an anti-drug campaign called Operation Toofan.
Mr. Vijayan wants the Home Minister to explain why the news was removed.
The ruling party and the opposition disagree, but everyone says they want to fight drugs.
Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan accused the Congress-led UDF government in Kerala of 'undeclared social media censorship' over the alleged removal of reports on the arrest of a person claiming to be CM V D Satheesan's social media coordinator in a drug case.
Vijayan claimed social media posts carrying news reports about the arrest had been restricted, preventing people in India from viewing them.
He said the government was allegedly extending 'unrestrained support' to drug traffickers and demanded an explanation from Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and the Home Department.
Vijayan compared the alleged restrictions to those imposed during the Emergency and alleged the UDF was receiving 'indirect help' from the BJP-led Centre.
CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan termed the arrest reports 'shocking' and claimed those arrested were prominent Youth Congress leaders close to the CM.
- Who
- Pinarayi Vijayan, Leader of the Opposition in Kerala, and the CPI(M); the Congress-led UDF state government under Chief Minister V D Satheesan and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala
- What
- Vijayan accused the Kerala government of 'undeclared social media censorship' over the alleged removal of reports on the arrest of a person claiming to be CM Satheesan's social media coordinator in a drug case
- Where
- Kerala, India, primarily on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram
- When
- Wednesday, August 12; the CPI(M) made related statements a day earlier, on Tuesday
- Why
- Vijayan alleged the government was suppressing news of an arrest made under its Operation Toofan anti-drug campaign and protecting people involved in the drug trade
Opposition (Vijayan & CPI-M)
Kerala UDF Government
Social media censorship
Opposition (Vijayan & CPI-M)
The government intervened to remove or restrict factual news reports about the arrest, an 'undeclared' and 'authoritarian' step comparable to Emergency-era censorship.
Kerala UDF Government
The government claims to follow safeguards on national security and law and order; Vijayan argues these should not justify suppressing this particular news.
Operation Toofan's integrity
Opposition (Vijayan & CPI-M)
The campaign is being undermined by political interests and pressure; the government is extending 'unrestrained support' to drug traffickers by protecting the accused.
Kerala UDF Government
Operation Toofan is projected as a major, comprehensive anti-drug campaign, including the arrest of an alleged Congress leader in an MDMA trafficking case, showing it acts irrespective of political affiliation.
Key facts
- Accuser
- Pinarayi Vijayan, Leader of Opposition in Kerala
- Accused
- Congress-led UDF government of Kerala
- Allegation
- Undeclared social media censorship over removal of reports on a drug-case arrest
- Arrest Subject
- Person claiming to be CM V D Satheesan's social media coordinator
- Anti-Drug Campaign
- Operation Toofan, launched by Kerala government under Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala
- Date
- August 12 (Wednesday)
- Location
- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
- Related Claim
- CPI(M) alleged Satheesan's office was linked to a drug mafia following the arrest
Quotes
Pinarayi Vijayan
Leader of the Opposition in Kerala
“"Why has the government taken the position that this news should not appear on social media?"”
theprint.in
Sources
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