Fascism, not democracy: Mahua Moitra after IB blocks Cockroach party's X handle

Mahua Moitra accused the Centre of stifling dissent after X withheld the Cockroach Janata Party account in India. She said the move showed the government was rattled by online youth mobilisation and opposition voices.

In Short

• The satirical page surfaced after recent remarks by Chief Justice Surya Kant
• Account blocked on X after Intelligence Bureau flagged security concerns
• Government reportedly used Section 69A of the Information Technology Act

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Friday accused the Centre of stifling dissent after the X account of "Cockroach Janata Party", a satirical social media page that emerged in the wake of recent remarks by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, was withheld in India.

Reacting to the development, Moitra wrote on X, "Fascism Not Democracy. Our government is so scared of the youth of this country that it can’t even bear a virtual online movement. Please realise what odds we in the Opposition fight on a daily basis".

Her remarks came after an Indian Express report said the Centre had directed X to withhold the account following inputs from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), which flagged "national security concerns". According to the report, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) invoked Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, to seek action against the account.

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