X Supports ‘Hindutva Watch’ in Delhi HC Amid Fake News Allegation.

X Challenges Delhi HC, Sides with Accused Hinduphobic Fake News Peddler ‘Hindutva Watch’ of Raqib Hameed Naik.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | New Delhi | Oct 2, 2024:: Social media giant X, formerly Twitter, took a bold stance on September 24 by challenging the Indian government’s order to block the Hindutva Watch account in the Delhi High Court. The company’s argument was straightforward: the Indian government failed to provide sufficient justification for blocking the account.

This move marks a significant development in the ongoing debate surrounding free speech and online censorship. X’s decision to contest the blocking order highlights the company’s commitment to upholding fundamental rights and ensuring that government actions are fair and transparent.

Hindutva Watch is infamous for mainly three counts:

– Biased Reporting: Critics argue that Hindutva Watch presents a one-sided narrative, focusing solely on Hindutva hardliners while ignoring other forms of violence perpetrated by Islamist, Naxalite, Kashmiri Separatists and Evangelists.
– Distortion of Facts: Some accuse the account of misrepresenting information to fit its narrative.
– Maligning Hindu Leaders: Hindutva Watch has been criticized for targeting Hindu leaders who openly express their religious identity.

By questioning the Indian government’s rationale, X is essentially seeking clarity on the grounds for blocking Hindutva Watch. This is crucial, as it sets a precedent for how social media platforms navigate complex issues involving freedom of expression and national security concerns.

Raqib Hameed Naik, the founder of Hindutva Watch, is a Kashmiri journalist who has been documenting hate crimes and hate speeches against religious minorities in India since 2021 in a very biased way to defame Hindus and Hindutva ativities. His work has been recognized globally in the circles of anti-India and anti-Hindu Islamist lobbies, with The Washington Post describing ‘Hindutva Watch as India’s most comprehensive real-time dataset of hate crimes’. But, Hindutva Watch news never expose the fanatic Islamist extremism in India including ‘Sar-Tan-Se-Juda’ (Cut the Head from Body) movements.

However, his efforts haven’t gone without challenges. In January 2024, the Indian government blocked access to Hindutva Watch’s Twitter handle, citing provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Naik claims he wasn’t given any reason for the blocking and only received an email from Twitter hours after the account was withheld.

The situation took another turn when a report by Disinfo Lab revealed alleged links between Hindutva Watch and Pakistan’s ruling party. Specifically, it was found that the portal used a map embedded by Sardar Adil Kayani, who reportedly ran PML-N’s propaganda in Pakistan.

Naik has since sued the Indian government, seeking restoration of his account. X, now a party in the case, supports Naik’s position, arguing that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) failed to provide adequate justification for the blocking order under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. This development highlights the ongoing debate surrounding free speech, online censorship, and national security concerns in India.

Hindutva Watch, founded by Raqib Hameed Naik, has been at the center of controversy in India. The account was withheld in India on January 16, 2024, following a legal demand from the government, citing concerns over its coverage of events in India. Critics accuse Hindutva Watch of presenting a biased narrative, distorting facts, and maligning Hindu leaders, such as T Raja Singh, Kajal Hindustani, and Nupur Sharma.

The account’s use of terms like “extreme hate speech” has been questioned for lacking clear explanations. Despite this, Hindutva Watch has been cited by fact-checkers like anti-Hindu Mohammed Zubair and left-wing organizations including Urban Naxals, which some argue have a history of portraying India negatively since PM Modi’s election in 2014.

However, X (formerly Twitter) has told Delhi high court that the Centre’s decision to block the account of Hindutva Watch (@HindutvaWatchIn) was “unjustified and disproportionate”.

X was replying to a petition by Raqib Hameed, a J&K journalist who has challenged the January 2024 blocking as the tracker’s founder. The HC will hear the matter next on October 3.

__Inputs from TOI.