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Even as India tries to adjust its head around the new, appearing-to-be-more-aware <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword>, he has gone ahead and fired a fresh salvo at the ruling BJP government. After having championed the cause of farmer’s and having made his anger against the current land bill evident, he is now out to ‘save the internet’ and champion the cause of <keyword id="6391709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Net-neutrality">net neutrality</keyword>. 
 Speaking in the Parliament, during 'Question Hour', Rahul attacked the <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> led BJP Government saying, "This government wants to sell-out the internet to the rich industrialists of this country. I am asking the government not to carve out the internet and hand it over to the industrialists.' He further said, "I want the government to immediately stop the TRAI consultation and write a clear law on net neutrality.' 
 
Earlier in the day, he had moved an a notice of adjournment in the Parliament seeking discussion on the issue of net neutrality. The Speaker, Sumitra Mahajan allowed Gandhi to raise his concern, which was followed by a quick, but sharp rebuttal by Telecom and Information Broadcast Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad. 
 Prasad said, "When <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> Narendra Modi speaks about Digital India, he wants that every citizen of this country gets access to the internet. The government not only wants e-governance, but wants to give access to mobile governance to all its citizens." He further added, " TRAI is holding a consultation within its jurisdiction, but the final say in the matter lies with the <keyword id="6493697" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Telecom-Ministry">telecom ministry</keyword> and eventually the cabinet." 
 The telecom minister also made a scathing remark at the previous UPA2 regime, referring to August 2012, when the then telecom ministry under Kapil Sibal had ordered internet service providers to block 16 Twitter accounts, including those of right-wing entities and leaders such as Sangh Parivar, Panchjanya magazine, and Pravin Togadia's blogposts, as wlee as hundreds of web-pages featuring user-generated content on websites such as <keyword id="6354576" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Facebook">Facebook</keyword> and Youtube. Prasad said, "when we are discussing this matter, why don't we ask Rahul Gandhi, the able politician that he is, about the Twitter handles that were blocked in August 2012." 
 
Post his 56-day vacation, this is the second time that Rahul Gandhi has attacked the Modi Government, providing a sense to the country that he might just have returned with an improved sense of issues to target, even touching all the correct ‘raw nerves’ of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government. 
 A month ago, Airtel’s Zero Plan and the TRAI’s consultation paper on over the top website usage created a huge furor amongst the youth in the country. The debate on net neutrality in India has reached such proportions that even Facebook Founder and CEO <keyword id="475824" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mark-Zuckerburg">Mark Zuckerburg</keyword> had to face the IRE OF India’s youth, resulting in many top internet companies leaving the internet.org platform. 
 Since then, TRAI has set up a consultation committee to discuss and debate the matter and arrive at a policy recommendation to the Telecom Ministry. Prasad, had earlier in the day said that the government has always been pro net neutrality and that a committee had already been set-up in January 2015 seeking opinion on the matter, the report on which will be submitted to DoT by the second week of May 2015. He further said that even this matter floated by TRAI will be first discussed by the department of telecom followed by the <keyword id="158388" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Telecom-Commission">Telecom Commission</keyword> and then a consolidated view will be taken. 
 
Going by the current momentum of things, this session of the Parliament is clearly all about showcasing the fact that Rahul Gandhi is ‘back for good’ and the new rejuvenated Gandhi scion will be making it rather tough for the BJP. But, above all the noise, there is only one factor that will determine how successful Rahul Gandhi really is, and that is his consistency in picking up the correct issues and the aggressive, well-researched manner he goes about charging at the BJP.

Rahul 'crusader' Gandhi now wants to 'Save the Internet'

Even as India tries to adjust its head around the new, appearing-to-be-more-aware <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword>, he has gone ahead and fired a fresh salvo at the ruling BJP government. After having championed the cause of farmer’s and having made his anger against the current land bill evident, he is now out to ‘save the internet’ and champion the cause of <keyword id="6391709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Net-neutrality">net neutrality</keyword>. 
 Speaking in the Parliament, during 'Question Hour', Rahul attacked the <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> led BJP Government saying, "This government wants to sell-out the internet to the rich industrialists of this country. I am asking the government not to carve out the internet and hand it over to the industrialists.' He further said, "I want the government to immediately stop the <keyword id="6356988" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="TRAI">TRAI</keyword> consultation and write a clear law on net neutrality.' 
 Earlier in the day, he had moved an a notice of adjournment in the Parliament seeking discussion on the issue of net neutrality. The Speaker, Sumitra Mahajan allowed Gandhi to raise his concern, which was followed by a quick, but sharp rebuttal by Telecom and Information Broadcast Minister, <keyword id="6354886" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ravi-Shankar-Prasad">Ravi Shankar Prasad</keyword>. 
 Prasad said, "When <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> Narendra Modi speaks about Digital India, he wants that every citizen of this country gets access to the internet. The government not only wants e-governance, but wants to give access to mobile governance to all its citizens." He further added, " TRAI is holding a consultation within its jurisdiction, but the final say in the matter lies with the <keyword id="6493697" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Telecom-Ministry">telecom ministry</keyword> and eventually the cabinet." 
 The telecom minister also made a scathing remark at the previous UPA2 regime, referring to August 2012, when the then telecom ministry under <keyword id="30182" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Kapil-Sibal">Kapil Sibal</keyword> had ordered internet service providers to block 16 Twitter accounts, including those of right-wing entities and leaders such as Sangh Parivar, Panchjanya magazine, and Pravin Togadia's blogposts, as wlee as hundreds of web-pages featuring user-generated content on websites such as <keyword id="6354576" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Facebook">Facebook</keyword> and Youtube. Prasad said, "when we are discussing this matter, why don't we ask Rahul Gandhi, the able politician that he is, about the Twitter handles that were blocked in August 2012." 
 
Post his 56-day vacation, this is the second time that Rahul Gandhi has attacked the Modi Government, providing a sense to the country that he might just have returned with an improved sense of issues to target, even touching all the correct ‘raw nerves’ of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government. 
 A month ago, Airtel’s Zero Plan and the TRAI’s consultation paper on over the top website usage created a huge furor amongst the youth in the country. The debate on net neutrality in India has reached such proportions that even Facebook Founder and CEO <keyword id="475824" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mark-Zuckerburg">Mark Zuckerburg</keyword> had to face the IRE OF India’s youth, resulting in many top internet companies leaving the internet.org platform. 
 Since then, TRAI has set up a consultation committee to discuss and debate the matter and arrive at a policy recommendation to the Telecom Ministry. Prasad, had earlier in the day said that the government has always been pro net neutrality and that a committee had already been set-up in January 2015 seeking opinion on the matter, the report on which will be submitted to DoT by the second week of May 2015. He further said that even this matter floated by TRAI will be first discussed by the department of telecom followed by the <keyword id="158388" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Telecom-Commission">Telecom Commission</keyword> and then a consolidated view will be taken. 
 
Going by the current momentum of things, this session of the Parliament is clearly all about showcasing the fact that Rahul Gandhi is ‘back for good’ and the new rejuvenated Gandhi scion will be making it rather tough for the BJP. But, above all the noise, there is only one factor that will determine how successful Rahul Gandhi really is, and that is his consistency in picking up the correct issues and the aggressive, well-researched manner he goes about charging at the BJP.

This is Rahul 'crusader' Gandhi's bid to 'save the internet'

On the 45th birthday of <keyword id="57428" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pappu">Pappu</keyword>, Twitterati has once again got busy celebrating #VishwaPappuDiwas in their signature style, which is by knocking him down with jokes dime a dozen. And those of you who are still wondering who is this Pappu? Well, we are talking about the <keyword id="1265503" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gandhi-scion">Gandhi scion</keyword> and Congress Party vice-president <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword>. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		This is why it called <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VishwaPappuDiwas?src=hash">#VishwaPappuDiwas</a> <a href="http://t.co/2R9UiwOduc">pic.twitter.com/2R9UiwOduc</a>
	— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) <a href="https://twitter.com/rishibagree/status/611754104151412736">June 19, 2015</a></blockquote>
 And if you are trying to understand, why <keyword id="207949" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Baba">Rahul baba</keyword> is called Pappu? The credit for this surely goes to so many bizarre statements which the 45-year-old has been making ever since his emergence as the Congress PM candidate for the <keyword id="6357317" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="2014-Lok-Sabha-elections">2014 Lok Sabha elections</keyword>. And after facing a humiliating defeat in the general elections, RaGa has become the butt of all jokes. On Rahul Gandhi’s 45th birthday, let’s look at a how Twitter users are lampooning his acts to add more masala to his birthday celebrations: 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Happy <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VishwaPappuDiwas?src=hash">#VishwaPappuDiwas</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia">@INCIndia</a> <a href="http://t.co/A1K51priex">pic.twitter.com/A1K51priex</a>
	— NaMoChaiParty (@NamoChaiParty) <a href="https://twitter.com/NamoChaiParty/status/611771054122401792">June 19, 2015</a></blockquote>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		See the great Intelligence level of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pappu?src=hash">#Pappu</a> Must appreciate his "Gurus" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VishwaPappuDiwas?src=hash">#VishwaPappuDiwas</a> <a href="http://t.co/dozgyrCJ3f">pic.twitter.com/dozgyrCJ3f</a>
	— RUPESH :-) (@rupeshsingh10) <a href="https://twitter.com/rupeshsingh10/status/611746518316351488">June 19, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PappuG?src=hash">#PappuG</a> 👉New Launched Biscuit In The Honour Of <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG">@OfficeOfRG</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AskAnshul">@AskAnshul</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tan_Tripathi">@Tan_Tripathi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SuvalagnaC">@SuvalagnaC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VishwaPappuDiwas?src=hash">#VishwaPappuDiwas</a> <a href="http://t.co/Vc8Qljs02s">pic.twitter.com/Vc8Qljs02s</a>
	— Nikhil Dadhich (@nikhildadhich) <a href="https://twitter.com/nikhildadhich/status/611730731451035648">June 19, 2015</a></blockquote>
This time even Congress workers have a reason to cheer. Every year they used to gather outside Rahul Gandhi’s resident to celebrate his birthday only to find that their “Shehzada” is having a good time abroad, but today they are prepping up to celebrate the occasion in a big way as Pappu is in India to impress his supporters. And this tweet is perfecting adding more flavour to the celebrations of “Vishwa Pappu Diwas.” 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Refreshing change, Pappu does a favour to the nation and journos - stays in india on 45th birthday <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VishwaPappuDiwas?src=hash">#VishwaPappuDiwas</a> <a href="http://t.co/mBfE8j43SO">pic.twitter.com/mBfE8j43SO</a>
	— shailendra singh (@shaksingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/shaksingh/status/611738214903058432">June 19, 2015</a></blockquote>
You can too add to the birthday celebrations by visiting 12, Tughlaq Lane where the Congress party supporters will cut a birthday cake weighing 45-kg outside Rahul Gandhi’s residence and “a procession will be taken out to his residence from Malcha Marg with flower decorated 'rath' and a cavalcade of cars adorned with party flags, banners and cut outs of the Congress vice-president," a new report revealed. 
(Image: Rahul Gandhi's Facebook page)

​Twitterati celebrates #VishwaPappuDiwas as Rahul Gandhi turns 45

<keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword>, vice president of Indian National Congress, has escalated his political campaign for the much debated cause of <keyword id="6391709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Net-neutrality">net neutrality</keyword>. He has also accused the Modi government of delaying its policy stand on it and has warned that the Digital India pitch might end up as a "surrogate for the interests of big corporations". 
 
"Nasscom has asked for net neutrality, over 500 startup entrepreneurs are pleading for it, young in India have been demanding it, yet we have a government which under the pretext of repeated discussions has been delaying framing of a clear-cut policy on this," Rahul said in a statement which was released on Sunday. 
 
The Gandhi scion also alleged that the NDA regime "quietly looked the other way" when telecom companies started introducing differential pricing through zero rating plans and began attempting charges for OTT (over the top) services. 
 
These comments have come at a time when Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is soon expected to announce its decision on differential pricing for data services and Facebook's Free Basics initiative. 
 
"Like millions of Indian, I am earnestly hoping to see a Trai report and the Modi government's commitment in favour of an open internet in its entirety where there is no ambiguity in regard to difference in pricing or VOIP," Gandhi said. 
 
Congress leaders opine that by taking up the issue of net neutrality, Rahul Gandhi is trying to clearly associate his image with that of the entrepreneurial spirit of India's youth. He already has fought, politically, for the causes of farmers and tribals on issues like land bill and Forest Act. 
 
"Rahul has been the first to forcefully come out in favour of free internet at a time many telecom giants are lobbying hard against it. Gandhi unflinching crusade for net neutrality will mount pressure on the Modi government's and TRAI's wishy-washy attitude on the issue," AICC chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewalla was quoted saying. 
 
Gandhi went ahead to say that Congress has wanted internet and telecom service providers and the government to treat all data with equality. 
"This is imperative for India to grow in 21st century. I sincerely hope that Trai report and Modi government will adhere to this bounden need espoused by millions of Indians," he said. 
 
"Congress party's and my belief is shaped by our faith that Internet users should be free to connect to any website or service that they want, enabling a level-playing field on the 'world wide web'. We recognise the danger of privileging a private platform over a public Internet, introducing a new digital divide," he continued. 
 
<a href="http://sathiyamnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Rahul-Gandhi.jpg">Image source</a>

Listen up! Rahul Gandhi has something to say about Net Neutrality

Linking the Rohith Vemula and <keyword id="3048656" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kanhaiya-Kumar">Kanhaiya Kumar</keyword> issues with rights of the marginalised, Congress leader <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword> today accused the <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> government of "crushing" the weak and the poor who demand their rights. 
 
He also said Union ministers and BJP leaders were free to carry out personalised attacks against him but they should not "crush the poor and the weak for whom I speak." 
"Tribals from Bastar met me today. They said they are facing atrocities in Chhattisgarh's Bastar and that they are being threatened and crushed. 
 
"Country will not benefit by beating and threatening people. You pressurised Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad, here you are pressurising Kanhaiya and our students," the Congress Vice President told reporters here. 
 
He alleged that wherever the poor is seeking rights, "be it farmer, dalit, tribal or small trader --small traders came to me -- wherever a weak person is raising voice, NDA government, Modi government is trying to crush it." 
 
These people are the strength of India and no one will benefit by crushing them, he said. 
 
 
"If you have to take action, do it. Those who break law, take action. But by crushing, threatening and beating the poor won't help the country," Rahul said. 
 In an apparent reference to Modi's remarks in the <keyword id="6355187" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha">Lok Sabha</keyword> that "some people age but do not mature", Rahul said the PM and his Cabinet colleagues are free to attack him. "Modi attacked me personally. His party colleagues are attacking me personally on a daily basis," he said. <keyword id="6355261" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Finance-minister">Finance Minister</keyword> <keyword id="42575" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arun-Jaitley">Arun Jaitley</keyword> recently took a dig at the Congress Vice-President over his Lok Sabha speech and said "the more I hear Rahul Gandhi, the more I start wondering how much does he know -- when will he know". 
 
"As one evolves from a young to a middle-aged one, we certainly expect a certain level of maturity," Jaitley had said in a Facebook post reacting to Gandhi's remarks that Prime Minister Modi does not consult his senior ministers on policy issues. 
 
"Do as much personal attacks as you want. But don't crush the poor, the weak for whom I speak. Hit me as much you want. Attack me as much you want. Speak for as long as you want to, but don't hit the poor people of the country," Rahul stressed. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

PM Narendra Modi's government is crushing the weak and poor: Rahul Gandhi

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=nitin+gadkari">Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari</a> on Friday slammed Nehru-Gandhi dynasty scion <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=rahul+gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</a> for making an insulting comment against External Affairs Minister <keyword id="6355111" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sushma-Swaraj">Sushma Swaraj</keyword> and asked him to apologise. 
 
Gadkari also threatened Congress party vice-president, Rahul Gandhi, of defamation suit. 
 
Gandhi, while launching a scathing attack on Swaraj over <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=lalit+modi">Lalit Modi row</a>, accused Swaraj of committing a crime. 
 
“<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=sushma+swaraj">Sushma</a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=sushma+swaraj"> Swaraj</a> is a minister who the whole country knows has done a criminal act. When you do a criminal act, you go to jail. The foreign minister of India going around ... and saying please release this man. The CM of Rajasthan has done that. This is against the law," he said while addressing mediapersons. 
 He also attacked Rajasthan Chief Minister <keyword id="6361795" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vasundhara-Raje">Vasundhara Raje</keyword> and demanded Swaraj’s and Raje’s resignation. 
 
Both the BJP leaders are accused of assisting former <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=IPL">IPL</a> chief Lalit Modi with travel documents and an immigration application. 
 
"This is a very insensitive and insulting comment against a foreign minister. He should apologise in person and take back his words. Gandhi's charges of corruption had no basis. She has not violated any law, nor has she misused her office,” Gadkari told the media. 
 
Meanwhile, the day 3 of the Monsoon Session was yet again adjourned. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=BJP">BJP</a> moved a privilege notice in Lok Sabha against <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=robert+vadra">Robert Vadra</a> for a recent Facebook post that said, "Parliament begins and so do their petty diversionary tactics...People of India are not fool(s). Regret to see India led by such so-called leaders." In response to comments on his post, he added, "We need to win over this kind of dictatorship and intrusion in a democratic India. Have nothing to hide, so will continue to fight till they stop falsely accusing me." 
 
BJP MPs submitted notices of privilege, demanding that Vadra be punished and reprimanded for his post.

Apologise to Sushma Swaraj or face defamation suit, Gadkari warns Rahul Gandhi

<ul><li>The <keyword id="6357783" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="West-bengal">West Bengal</keyword> CM said if the exams are conducted as scheduled, it would put students' lives at risk from the Covid-19 pandemic.</li><li>It is to be noted that <keyword id="6361994" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="NEET">NEET</keyword> is scheduled on September 13 and JEE-Mains will be held from September 1-6.</li><li>Earlier, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi had also urged <keyword id="1205297" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-Bharatiya-Janata-Party">the Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP)-led central government to consider the 'Mann Ki Baat' of students and address the postponement issue of the entrance examinations. </li></ul> West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Baner<keyword id="6392660" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="JEE">jee</keyword> on Monday urged the Centre for the second time to postpone NEET, JEE 2020. She said that the exams should not be held until the situation is conducive again. The West Bengal CM said if the exams are conducted as scheduled, it would put students' lives at risk from the Covid-19 pandemic. "In our last video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modiji, I had been vocal against the UGC guidelines mandating completion of terminal examinations in universities and colleges by the end of September 2020, which had a huge potential to put student lives at risk," Banerjee tweeted. It is to be noted that NEET is scheduled on September 13 and JEE-Mains will be held from September 1-6. "Now with the directive of the Education Ministry to conduct NEET, JEE 2020 in September, I would again appeal to the Centre to assess the risk and postpone these examinations until the situation is conducive again,a she said. Earlier, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi had also urged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government to consider the 'Mann Ki Baat' of students and address the postponement issue of the entrance examinations. Meanwhile, India on Monday recorded 61,408 fresh cases of Covid-19 and 836 deaths in the last 24-hours. "It is our duty to ensure a safe environment for all our students," Banerjee said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/latest-job-openings-at-google-microsoft-jp-morgan-goldman-sachs-ericsson-amazon-adobe-zomato-for-software-engineers/slidelist/77585263.cms">Google, Microsoft, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Ericsson and other companies hiring software engineers in India right now</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/the-heat-is-on-mark-zuckerberg-in-india-as-facebook-and-whatsapp-incur-the-ire-of-modis-rivals/articleshow/77575358.cms">The heat is on Mark Zuckerberg in India as Facebook and WhatsApp incur the ire of Modi's rivals</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/the-top-9-movies-on-netflix-this-week-from-aposjurassic-parkapos-to-aposwork-itapos/slidelist/77548389.cms">The top 9 movies on Netflix this week, from 'Jurassic Park' to 'Work It'</a>

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee urges Centre to postpone NEET-JEE 2020

The Parliamentary Panel on IT has summoned representatives of Facebook to appear before the committee on September 2 to discuss the subject of "safeguarding citizens' rights and prevention of misuse of social/online news media platforms including special emphasis on women security in the digital space". Officials of the IT Ministry have also been asked to be present during the meeting, as per an official statement. The development comes amid a full-fledged battle between the BJP and the Congress on the issue of Facebook and a BJP committee member demanding removal of panel Chairman, Congress' <keyword id="42749" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shashi-Tharoor">Shashi Tharoor</keyword>, from the post. After privilege notices from both sides, BJP's <keyword id="294500" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nishikant-Dubey">Nishikant Dubey</keyword> on Thursday sought the removal of Tharoor as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology. In a letter to Speaker Om Birla, he requested him "to invoke Rule 283 with provisions in rules of procedures for removing Shashi Tharoor as Chairman of the IT panel". He alleged that Tharoor had showed "disdain" in summoning Facebook and sending notice on breach of privilege against him. "He (Tharoor) is not a new architect in creating unnecessary controversies to grind his political ambitions and at the same time, targeting my party, even by misusing the parliamentary institutions," he said in the letter. Tharoor gave notice for breach of privilege against Dubey for his alleged "disparaging" remarks, and Dubey hit back with a privilege notice against him as well as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/google-eyes-indias-sharechat-as-microsoft-goes-after-tiktok-in-the-us-heres-why-it-makes-sense/articleshow/77667345.cms">Google eyes India’s ShareChat as Microsoft goes after TikTok in the US — here’s why it makes sense</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/gmail-down-users-report-being-unable-to-send-emails-and-attach-files/articleshow/77648762.cms">Gmail is working again — Google fixes issue without explaining what went wrong</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/isro-chandrayaan-2-identifies-craters-that-may-have-water-after-mapping-4-million-square-kilometres-of-the-moon-in-its-first-year/slidelist/77667105.cms">ISRO’s Chandrayaan 2 identifies craters that may have water after mapping 4 million square kilometres of the Moon in its first year</a>

Facebook asked to appear before Parliamentary Panel in India to discuss 'safeguarding citizens' rights'

<ul><li>Shashi Tharoor, the head of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology (IT), has called on Facebook to respond to allegations of ignoring hate speech in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). </li><li>The allegations come at a time when the social networking giant is already in hot water in the US over market power. </li><li>Congress has accused BJP and its affiliate the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of being in cahoots with Facebook to propogate one-sided content.</li></ul> Facebook and WhatsApp have come under the scanner in India again, this time for ignoring hate speech in order to rake in more money from its business in India by siding with the party in power, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). They may face scrutiny by a Parliamentary panel after the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-hate-speech-india-politics-muslim-hindu-modi-zuckerberg-11597423346">Wall Street Journal</a> reported, citing sources, that Indian politician T. Raja Singh's hateful posts against Rohingya Muslim immigrants was allowed to stay on the platform because Facebook didn't want to be at odds with the BJP. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology (IT), headed by Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor, has called on the social networking giant to respond to these allegations. <div type="twitter" handle="ShashiTharoor" handlename="Shashi Tharoor" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1280501371431800833/aoWxPcWK_normal.jpg" favoritecount="1317" retweetcount="261" status="Our Parliamentary committee will, in the normal course, consider testimony under the topic “Safeguarding citizens’… https://t.co/GJ48dmvzIk" createdat="1597580619000" id="1294973094038089728"></div> The demand for a probe comes after Facebook along with Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google were grilled by the US government over market power. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="77268690" title="Newly surfaced emails show how ruthlessly Facebook, Amazon, Apple, and Google built their businesses and ate up smaller companies" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Congress demands probe Congress president Rahul Gandhi accused the party in power, the Bharatiya Janata Pary (BJP), and its affiliate Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of manipulating Facebook to spread news. He demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into alleged violations by the social media platform and its messaging service. "BJP and RSS control Facebook and WhatsApp in India. They spread fake news and hatred through it and use it to influence the electorate," he tweeted. Not just Facebook, but Congress has also asked the government to clarify any "quid pro quo" it may have had with WhatsApp and Facebook and shed light on what type of business dealings the two had with the government. Manipulating Facebook "There are 40 crore Indians on WhatsApp and over 28 crore on Facebook. So, a probe is necessary into the commercial dealings, propagation of hate content, and connection of Facebook and WhatsApp employees with the BJP," said Congress spokesperson and former Union Minister Ajay Maken said during a virtual press conference, According to him, the bias and alignment of the Facebook India's leadership team with the BJP and RSS is not limited to the Head of Public Policy in India. "There are many others in that leadership team with a close working relationship with the BJP," said Maken. Congress said it had raised the issue with the Facebook team in India. "We met the team of Ankhi Das on May 15 and complained about the manipulative content. The team heard us but did nothing," claimed Rohan Gupta, Congress Social Media head. Das is the Public Policy Director, Facebook-India, South and Central Asia. Facebook's checkered past Asked if the Congress lost past elections due to this "manipulation", the Congress leaders said that it is not only elections but its effect on the nation as a whole. The party asserted that it was like attacking the country's soul by propagating one-sided content which is "mostly of hatred". The Cambridge Analytica scandal is still fresh is in many minds. Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg was summed by the US Congress and investigated Facebook's role in election manipulation. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="71461113" title="The Cambridge Analytica whistleblower explains how the firm used Facebook data to sway elections" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The UK too has issued warnings to Facebook. Facebook was accused of similar interference in Brazil. "India's rich electoral democracy cannot be sacrificed at the altar of Facebook and WhatsApp," the Congress asserted. 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The heat is on Mark Zuckerberg in India as Facebook and WhatsApp incur the ire of Modi's rivals

The gong’s been sounded for one of the most exciting battles in Indian elections. It will be a longdrawn out contest, to be held in nine phases, <keyword id="54921" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="40" keywordseo="spread">spread</keyword> over 36 days from April 7 to May 12. 
 The votes will be counted on May 16 and on that day or in the next few days it will become apparent who will form the next government — <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>, <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword> or a surprise Third Front satrap. 
 Along with the <keyword id="6355187" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha">Lok Sabha</keyword> election, three states — <keyword id="37102" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Andhra-Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</keyword>, Odisha and <keyword id="48118" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Sikkim">Sikkim</keyword> — will also go to the polls. 
 
Assembly elections in Delhi will have to wait till a new government at the Centre has been formed. The nine days when polling will be held are April 7, 9, 10, 12, 17, 24 and 30 and May 7 and 12. The model code of conduct has kicked in with immediate effect. 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lok-Sabha-elections-2014-Crucial-factors/articleshow/31509920.cms">Lok Sabha elections 2014: Crucial factors</a> 
 Indian elections have been essays in uncertainty since 1967 when <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword>’s hegemony faced its first serious challenge. However, indications are that the coming election may be even more exciting. While Congress and <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> are locked in a gladiatorial contest, the entry of <keyword id="6356115" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="AAP">AAP</keyword> has inserted an X factor in the battle. 
 
Going by opinion polls, Congress seems to be heading for its worst-ever performance with some estimates indicating that its tally may shrink to double digits. If that were to happen, the transition of the Congress leadership to Rahul Gandhi could become a wrenching process. 
 
BJP appears poised to make big gains this time. Narendra Modi’s arrival has energized the party’s base and triggered hopes of a comeback after a decade-long power drought at the Centre . Unless BJP falls victim to its historical inability to live up to its promise, this Modi-led resurgence, coupled with a deep disenchantment with Congress, raise the possibility of his rightwing, growth-centric political model spreading to new constituencies. 
 
 The <keyword id="6354944" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Aam-Aadmi-Party">Aam Aadmi Party</keyword>’s stunning debut in Delhi has been a testimony to its success in tapping into the popular resentment against established parties in a remarkably short time. The coming election will show to what extent this fledgling party led by <keyword id="260213" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Arvind-Kejriwal">Arvind Kejriwal</keyword> can convert its appeal into votes in other states. What’s , however, already apparent is that AAP is fast becoming a thorn in BJP’s flesh — the party it is now targeting after having routed Congress in Delhi. 
 
Soon-to-be-born states, FB, Twitter add zing to 2014 polls 
 
It has been reported that Kejriwal will contest from Varanasi if Modi fights from there. And on Wednesday, he was in Gujarat , queering Modi’s pitch in his home state. 
 This election will also be different because of the spread of social media as a political tool. If the 2004 polls saw parties using mobile phones to reach out to voters, this poll will see <keyword id="6354576" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Facebook">Facebook</keyword>, Twitter and various apps being used to mobilize the techsavvy among 149.5 million new voters. 
 
The assembly election in Andhra Pradesh carries the possibility of two new parties forming governments in the about-to-be-born states of Seemandhra and Telangana. YSR Congress and Telangana Rashtra Samiti respectively are regarded as the frontrunners for the two states which will come into being after June. 
 
 
 Among the states, UP and <keyword id="30033" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Bihar">Bihar</keyword> will vote on six days; <keyword id="6357783" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="West-Bengal">West Bengal</keyword> and Jammu &amp; Kashmir on five; <keyword id="6354915" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Assam">Assam</keyword>, <keyword id="43945" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Chhattisgarh">Chhattisgarh</keyword>, <keyword id="6360371" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Jharkhand">Jharkhand</keyword>, <keyword id="6355554" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Madhya-Pradesh">Madhya Pradesh</keyword> and Maharashtra on three; and Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha , Rajasthan and Tripura on two days. There will be a single-day poll in Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, <keyword id="6358126" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Himachal-Pradesh">Himachal Pradesh</keyword>, Karnataka, Kerala, <keyword id="20154" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>, <keyword id="44522" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Uttarakhand">Uttarakhand</keyword> and Goa, a majority of northeastern states and Union territories including Delhi. 
 Announcing the schedule, chief election commissioner V S Sampath, flanked by election commissioners V S <keyword id="153539" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Brahma">Brahma</keyword> and <keyword id="141382" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Nasim-Zaidi">Nasim Zaidi</keyword>, appealed to all political parties and candidates to “uphold the peerless democratic traditions by maintaining high standards of political discourse and fair play in the course of their election campaigns”. Sampath said, “We appeal to the leaders of all political parties, especially their star campaigners , to refrain from using language that is against decorum and decency”.

Lok Sabha Polls: Nine Days That Could Shape Or Shake India

New Delhi, As we gloat over reports how the US and European countries have started to tame the social media platforms in regard to anti-trust market practices, users privacy and the spread of fake news, <keyword id="1781932" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Big-Tech">Big Tech</keyword> firms had their own iota of controversies in India in 2020, generating enough political heat in the process. The biggest controversy came in August when the Wall Street Journal reported on the blatant biases of <keyword id="736869" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Facebook-India">Facebook India</keyword>'s team, headed by their <keyword id="5729070" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-policy-chief">public policy chief</keyword> for the country, Ankhi Das. The report alleged that the top leadership at Facebook's India office refused to apply the company's own rules to politicians from the ruling party, despite clear violations of Facebook's policies against incitement to violence, hate speech and misinformation. Following the report, the Congress raised the issue of what it calls "unholy nexus" of the ruling BJP with Facebook and WhatsApp. Shashi Tharoor, the head of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology (IT), called on Facebook to respond to allegations of ignoring hate speech in favour of the ruling party. Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also wrote a hard-hitting letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, blaming the Facebook India management of alleged bias against people supporting the right-of-centre ideology. The minister said that as a <keyword id="10498524" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="transnational-digital-platform">transnational digital platform</keyword>, Facebook must not only be fair and neutral, but also "visibly seen to be so, to users of diverse beliefs and ideologies". Later, deposing before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on personal data protection Bill 2019, Das was asked how much funds are spent by the social media giant on data safety. The Facebook executives were also questioned on the quantum of its revenue as well as the profit they are making in India. A coalition of 41 civil rights groups also demanded that Facebook India should immediately place its public policy head Ankhi Das on a leave of absence pending a full audit of the company and an investigation into her statements as reported in The Wall Street Journal. The political heat resulted in Das quitting the company in October "to pursue her interest in public service". Another WSJ report this month alleged that Facebook discussed banning Bajrang Dal and termed it a dangerous organisation but did not act considering the safety of the employees. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter and said: "Further confirmation that BJP-RSS control Facebook in India." However, no stern action was taken on Facebook. Micro-blogging platform Twitter stirred a major controversy in the second half of the year when it showed Ladakh as part of China. Twitter had to apologise to a parliamentary panel in a letter, stating that it will fix the issue of geo-tagging Ladakh as part of China and Ladakh will be added as a region administered by India as a union territory. The micro-blogging platform sent the letter to the panel's chairperson Meenakshi Lekhi and apologised for the geo-tag error. A joint committee of Parliament led by BJP MP Lekhi which has 20 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha, had issued summons to Twitter, seeking an explanation in form of an affidavit. Taking strong exception to the "misrepresentation" of India's map, the government also wrote a letter to the Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, saying that any attempt by the platform to disrespect the sovereignty and integrity of India, which is also reflected by the maps, was totally unacceptable. In a separate incident, after courting controversy for wrongly showing Jammu and Kashmir as part of China, Twitter said it resolved this particular geo-tag issue. Several netizens also asked the IT minister and the government to take action against <keyword id="749437" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Twitter-India">Twitter India</keyword> as the controversy erupted amid India's border standoff with China in Ladakh. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-mrs-bectors-ril-bharti-airtel-vodafone-idea-ilfs-interglobe-aviation-future-group-deepak-nitrite-jubilant-foodworks-and-others/articleshow/79933826.cms">Top stocks to watch – Mrs Bectors, RIL, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, IL&amp;FS, InterGlobe Aviation, Future Group, Deepak Nitrite, Jubilant FoodWorks, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/there-are-one-of-only-17-indian-companies-out-of-500-that-aced-the-du-pont-test/articleshow/79911627.cms">There are one of only 17 Indian companies out of 500 that aced the Du Pont test</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/wipro-buyback-offer-details-and-700-million-metro-ag-deal-drives-share-price/articleshow/79911875.cms">Wipro offers 10% more to buy back shares and signs a $700 million deal with Metro AG – everything that’s driving the IT services stock higher today</a>

Facebook and Twitter stir up hornet's nest in India in 2020

<ul><li>Times NOW-VMR opinion poll released on March 18 pegs unemployment as the biggest concern for over 40% of the voters surveyed </li><li>Loan waivers and sops for farmers followed unemployment as the most defining issue </li><li>Construction of the Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya and cow protection were the other pressing issues </li><li>The poll predicts that the incumbent National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will win 283 seats. </li></ul>The latest opinion poll released by Times NOW and VMR on March 18 (Monday) has a bittersweet message for political parties across the spectrum. Unemployment has emerged as the biggest issue for the upcoming elections, with over 40.2% of the voters concerned about it. 
 
 
 
 
 
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 This may seem like a setback for the incumbent Narendra Modi government seeking re-election this year but there may be a silver lining for the supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Just as many people--about 40% of those surveyed--feel that the job opportunities have actually improved. Only 24% of the voters feel that job losses may be worse than what is said about it, and the government data is not accurate. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 In what may be telling picture of voter polarisation, nearly 18% voters rather gave weight to the prospects of building a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, a case that is pending at Supreme Court, which has sought to resolve the matter through mediation. What is worse for the Modi’s rivals, some of the other issues raised by the challengers like the alleged corruption in the procurement of Rafale fighter jets from French company Dassault has very little resonance among the voters. Less than 3% of the voters surveyed cared for it. More voters worried about cow protection. The Indian National Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, has tried to capitalise on the recent controversies around unemployment data. Evidently, it has failed to make a reasonable dent on the government's image. In January 2019, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/a-hidden-jobs-survey-in-india-casts-doubt-on-data-integrity-under-narendra-modi-government/articleshow/67750383.cms">a leaked report</a> from the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) alleged that unemployment may be at a 45-year high and the government had stalled the release of the report fearing the damning impact it may have on its electoral fortunes. While the government disputed the NSSO data, a report from the <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/indias-unemployment-rate-highest-since-sept-2016-climbs-to-7-2-in-feb-cmie-5613369/" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy</a> released in January said nearly 11 million people lost jobs in 2018, a finding that corroborated the concerns about unemployment. Somehow, none of this seems to be affecting the image of the incumbent government led by Narendra Modi. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/general-elections-2019-vvpat-how-to-verify-vote/articleshow/68475130.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Here’s how you can verify your vote using VVPAT</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/is-indias-2019-election-really-a-foregone-conclusion/articleshow/68423465.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Is India's 2019 election really a foregone conclusion?</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/jlf-gandhi-vs-modi-bjp-vs-congress-dont-understand-indian-voters/articleshow/67685811.cms">Presidential ego or a dynast's charm — what Indian voters like is still a mystery to the country's politicians</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/general-election-2019-facebook-war-room-in-india/articleshow/68371097.cms">The Indian election might be Facebook's last chance to prove that it can fight fake news and political bias</a>

You Searched For "rahul gandhi on facebook" and got 12 results

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You Searched For "rahul gandhi on facebook" and got 12 results

Rahul 'crusader' Gandhi now wants to 'Save the Internet'

Debdatta Das

This is Rahul 'crusader' Gandhi's bid to 'save the internet'

Debdatta Das

​Twitterati celebrates #VishwaPappuDiwas as Rahul Gandhi turns 45

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Listen up! Rahul Gandhi has something to say about Net Neutrality

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PM Narendra Modi's government is crushing the weak and poor: Rahul Gandhi

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Apologise to Sushma Swaraj or face defamation suit, Gadkari warns Rahul Gandhi

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West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee urges Centre to postpone NEET-JEE 2020

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Facebook asked to appear before Parliamentary Panel in India to discuss 'safeguarding citizens' rights'

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The heat is on Mark Zuckerberg in India as Facebook and WhatsApp incur the ire of Modi's rivals

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Lok Sabha Polls: Nine Days That Could Shape Or Shake India

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Facebook and Twitter stir up hornet's nest in India in 2020

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Modi may not take the fall for rising unemployment in India, latest opinion poll shows

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Twitterati celebrates #VishwaPappuDiwas as Rahul Gandhi turns 45