EC Bans Popular Satirical Twitter Handle; Owner Alleges Bias, Differential Standards Of Freedom Of Expression

Election Commission of India (ECI) asked Twitter to take down the popular satirical Twitter handle @padhalikha, which criticises so-called liberals and Islamic fundamentalism.

Sayyid Rabeehashmi, a bureaucrat employed with the ECI issued a notice to Twitter India with instructions to take down the handle @padhalikha citing that the “account violates section 295A of the Indian Penal Code, causing outrage to religious feelings with deliberate and malicious acts insulting the religion or religious beliefs.”

Speaking to MyNation, the person running the handle said “his account and tweets are well within the permissible limits of the Indian Constitution to criticise and be satirical about things that act as an anathema to the well-being of the society. Be it any religion, it is always good to point out the errors and rectify them, instead of feeling hurt and being targeted.”

He also added that “the arbitrary behaviour of the social media companies just before elections raises several pertinent questions: If every Twitter account is governed by same rules and etiquette, why didn’t this bureaucrat working in the Election Commission of India use his clout to shut down accounts like @AmbedkarCaravan, which regularly abuse Hindus?”

“Does a fair criticism of the fundamentalism in Islam amount to abuse of freedom of speech and expression? And when it comes to hurting the sentiments of the majority community, does it automatically qualify as freedom of speech and expression?” he said.

Incidentally, Sayyid, a bureaucrat hailing from Kerala was supported by Zakat Foundation in his preparation for the civil services exam. The NGO founded on ‘Islamic principles’ purportedly helps students in need, especially Muslims in securing coveted government posts. The organisation shone to limelight when its student Shah Faesal from Kashmir became a UPSC topper. Faesal recently resigned from the service and floated his own political party.