Categories: India

Loser talk: Law Minister Prasad thrashes Congress' 'BJP controls Facebook' claim

The war of word between the BJP and Congress party, when Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad called former Congress President Rahul Gandhi a 'loser', escalatd on Sunday over an article allegeing that social media giant Facebook favoured the ruling party.

The Union minister and a senior face of the ruling BJP hit out at Rahul Gandhi as he tweeted, "Losers who cannot influence people even in their own party keep cribbing that the entire world is controlled by BJP & RSS". He also dug up the controversial issue of Cambridge Analytica to make his point.

"You were caught red-handed in alliance with Cambridge Analytica & Facebook to weaponise data before the elections & now have the gall to question us?" asked the minister. The Facebook-Cambridge Analytica was a data leak in early 2018 whereby millions of Facebook users' personal data was harvested without consent by the firm, primarily for political advertising.

Though the Congress had tried to distance itself, a Congress poster in then Cambridge Analytica CEO's London office came out in the public domain, leaving the opposition party baffled.

This attack came soon after Gandhi tweeted a news article that suggested Facebook officials in India were ignoring alleged hate speech by certain BJP leaders. Gandhi had said, "BJP & RSS control Facebook & Whatsapp in India. They spread fake news and hatred through it and use it to influence the electorate."

Prasad did not stop at just seemingly calling the Congress leader a "loser" or raking up a past controversy that the Congress got entangled in. He further said, "The fact is that today access to information and freedom of expression has been democratised. It is no longer controlled by retainers of your family and that is why it hurts."

Upping the ante, Prasad sought a condemnation from Gandhi on the recent Bangalore riots, asking whether his courage to do the same has "disappeared"..

AddThis Website Tools
IANS

Recent Posts

India and Kyrgyzstan’s BIT comes into force, strengthen economic tiesIndia and Kyrgyzstan’s BIT comes into force, strengthen economic ties

India and Kyrgyzstan’s BIT comes into force, strengthen economic ties

The new Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between India and the Kyrgyz Republic comes into force…

12 hours ago
EAM Jaishankar meets Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan in DelhiEAM Jaishankar meets Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan in Delhi

EAM Jaishankar meets Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan in Delhi

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan on…

14 hours ago
“India’s maritime prowess soars, global collaborations give thrust to Make in India”: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal“India’s maritime prowess soars, global collaborations give thrust to Make in India”: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal

“India’s maritime prowess soars, global collaborations give thrust to Make in India”: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, attended the MoU signing…

15 hours ago
Over 30 countries to convene in Russia for ‘Digitalisation of Industrial Russia’ ConferenceOver 30 countries to convene in Russia for ‘Digitalisation of Industrial Russia’ Conference

Over 30 countries to convene in Russia for ‘Digitalisation of Industrial Russia’ Conference

Nizhny Novgorod is set to host the anniversary edition of the "Digitalisation of Industrial Russia"…

15 hours ago
Musk’s Starlink will be given 3rd satcom services licence after Airtel and Jio: ScindiaMusk’s Starlink will be given 3rd satcom services licence after Airtel and Jio: Scindia

Musk’s Starlink will be given 3rd satcom services licence after Airtel and Jio: Scindia

Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday said Elon Musk's Starlink will be the third…

18 hours ago
Gilgit-Baltistan turmoil deepens amid Land Law backlashGilgit-Baltistan turmoil deepens amid Land Law backlash

Gilgit-Baltistan turmoil deepens amid Land Law backlash

Gilgit-Baltistan is witnessing a deepening political and human rights crisis that observers warn may mirror…

18 hours ago