Centre pressures social media platform X to withhold Hindutva Watch's account

The Indian government has successfully compelled social media platform X to withhold the account of the independent research initiative Hindutva Watch. The action was taken on the evening of Tuesday, January 16, following a legal demand from the Union government.

Hindutva Watch, founded by Raqib Hameed Naik, focuses on monitoring and reporting attacks on members of minority and marginalized communities in India. The organization specifically targets incidents involving radicalized Hindus and Hindutva militia groups, aiming to expose the ideology, institutions, and individuals responsible for acts of violence and injustice.

The notification received by Hindutva Watch stated, "In the interest of transparency, we are writing to inform you that X has received a legal removal demand from the Government of India regarding your X account, @HindutvaWatchIn, that claims the following content violates India's Information Technology Act, 2000."

According to Blocking Rules 2009, the designated officer is obligated to exert "reasonable efforts" to identify and notify the host of problematic content, allowing them to appear before the Section 69A blocking committee.

However, if the blocking order is an emergency, this step is omitted. The current status regarding the nature of the blocking order, whether it is an emergency, remains undisclosed. Due to the confidential nature of blocking orders, the recommending ministry or agency and potential additional blocked social media accounts or websites are currently unknown in this specific instance of blocking.

Reacting to the account's suspension, Raqib Hameed Naik expressed his lack of surprise, citing the Modi regime's history of suppressing free press and critical voices. He emphasized the organization's commitment to its work despite the setback.

Naik stated, "This won't deter us! We remain committed! The suppression of our account in India only fuels our determination to continue our work undeterred."

Hindutva Watch's primary focus is to shed light on reports of attacks on religious and ethnic minorities, offering a critical perspective on the actions of radicalized groups. The organization's suspension on X has raised concerns among activists and advocates for freedom of expression, who argue that such actions may stifle dissent and limit the space for independent voices in India.

The Government's critics argue that the government's move to censor Hindutva Watch's account is part of a broader trend of restricting free speech and suppressing dissenting opinions. This incident adds to the ongoing debate surrounding the balance between national security concerns and the protection of fundamental rights in the world's largest democracy.