Social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook have already been facing criticism for being biased to particular ideologies on their platforms. The nature of how content is moderated on these sites to identify insensitive and offensive information and hate speech has been questioned.

Earlier this morning, an account by the name True Indology, under the handle @tlinexile, was suspended on Twitter. Many Twitteratis are enraged that this curbs freedom of expression and are blaming IPS officer D Roopa Moudgil for the same. They are demanding an explanation from Twitter for the suspension of the account.

When did it all start?

The suspension seems to be a consequence of the ongoing debate that Indians engaged in recently regarding the ban on crackers during Diwali.

While many such as Moudgil, the first lady IPS officer in Karnataka, supported the cause since it was an effective measure against rising pollution, many Indians were upset about the ban.

On November 15, Moudgil wrote an article in the Times of India, questioning and criticising why people had a problem with the ban on crackers. She elaborated that the ban was in the best interest of the people, as there were predictions that Delhi and Bengaluru would be the worst hit by pollution and smog.

She was also critical of those who were vouching for crackers. She explained how it was never mentioned in any scriptures and was particularly dismayed by young people taking the ban as an offence on religious sentiments.

People were offended by the observation that the government was ‘selectively’ imposing rules against Hindu festivals.

What was the debate about?

Although True Indology’s tweets have been deleted, snippets of the argument are present in Moudgil’s account. Twitterati had also saved screenshots of the arguments.

Also Read: How Diwali Is Equally Shared By Hindus, Jainas, Sikhs, Farmers As A Festival

The account tried to argue that firecrackers were a part of Hindu culture while the officer argued that crackers came to India only after colonialism.

https://twitter.com/Ukaryota/status/1328873336277897217

https://twitter.com/ManjeetSharma84/status/1328909743679627271

However, there were also people who praised the officer for winning the argument.

https://twitter.com/heeraman98/status/1328917673560866817

Twitter is now storming with the hashtag #BringBackTrueIndology. It has grabbed the attention of comedians as well, who are being satirical about the entire situation.

Even Kangana Ranaut has responded to the issue.

People are arguing that the account was mindful and truthful about the facts that it endorsed about Hindu culture, however, there are also those who are critical of it for endorsing religious outrage against a ban that was solely imposed for the cause of protecting the environment.

One can argue that the officer might have blocked it solely because the account was spreading misinformation and instigating religious intolerance among people.

Twitter has many people who support the right-wing ideology and take minute offences against any information that threatens a majoritarian religion.

However, which institutions and people in power get to decide what content gets to stay on social media platforms since India does promise freedom of expression in spite of the kind of views being expressed?

The question remains unanswered.

Image Credits: Google Images

Sources: Times of India, Twitter

Find the blogger: @aiswaryanil

This post is tagged under: hindutva ideology, diwali, crackers ban. firecrackers, why is there a ban on firecrackers, pollution, bengaluru bans crackers, bangalore bans crackers, pollution in delhi, firecrackers ban in delhi, who makes firecrackers, religious intolerance, when did crackers come to india, karnataka’s first lady ips officer, right wing ideologies, kangana ranaut

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