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Uttar Pradesh Congress chief’s WhatsApp blocked, blames BJP
Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai said on Wednesday that his official WhatsApp number has been restricted and blocked for over a week, accusing the BJP government of pressuring private companies to silence Opposition voices ahead of elections. Rai called the move an "authoritarian trend" aimed at cutting his communication with party workers and disrupting daily party work.
Rai said hundreds of people contact him daily on WhatsApp, and the restriction prevents him from connecting with them. He has written to Meta demanding the restriction be lifted and said he will approach the judiciary if it is not resolved. The Congress leader accused the government of using political and administrative pressure to target him.
The Hindu report did not include comment from the BJP or Meta, and the blocking reason remains unclear. Rai did not specify when his account was first restricted or provide evidence of government involvement.
Indian Opinion Analysis
WhatsApp blockages during elections are not new in India. In 2019, multiple Opposition accounts were temporarily suspended for alleged spam violations, though platforms rarely disclose government requests. For a State party chief, being cut off from district-level workers, who rely on WhatsApp for daily coordination, can stall ground campaigns within hours. Rai has written to Meta, but the company typically cites terms-of-service violations, not government pressure. If the restriction persists, the likely next step is a petition before the Allahabad High Court under Article 19(1)(a), which guarantees freedom of speech. The outcome will test whether private platforms independently enforce rules or yield to political complaints. Watch for Meta’s response deadline, usually within 15 days of a formal request.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
