Interview: Vinit Goenka
Former national co-convener, IT Cell of the Bharatiya Janata Party; member-governing council-CRIS, Ministry of Railways
Vinit Goenka is the author of Enemies Within and co author of Data Sovereignty: The Pursuit of Supremacy along with Lieutenant General VM Patil,. While Enemies Within explores the historical reasons such as the influence of foreign invaders in writing India’s history, the other book deep dives into concepts and our narrative of ‘Data Colonisation’.
Of late Vinit is at the centre of a row over social media platform being used as an instrument for promoting anti-national sentiments in wake of multiple FIRs being registered against Twitter Communications India Pvt. Ltd. is currently hotting up with litigants on either side dwelling on a pro-Khalistan tweet by lawyer Gurpatwant Singh Pannum.
The said tweet, which mentioned, “Whether India should recognise Khalistan 2020” raised a furore with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s former Co Convener Vinit Goenka and his band of supporters seeking that sedition charges be pressed against Twitter, filed multiple FIRs against the social media giant. The Twitter approached the Supreme Court. The apex court’s bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde issued a notice on the plea sought to set the records straight on Goenka’s claim that Twitter had permitted Pannum’s tweet in exchange for a financial consideration. It also sought to clarify that Twitter had blocked the Tweet and had also suspended the said account.
Twitter has branded the actions of Vinit and his supporters , as baseless, unfounded and malicious in nature. The Indian wing of the platform further contended that they had no say whatsoever in determining Twitter’s ad policy and nor do they collect any revenue for content of any nature. Finally, Twitter India in its plea has sought consolidation of all the FIRs that have been filed against them as they were largely identical in nature, citing the example of how Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami case was handled.
In an interview with globalbihari.com, Vinit speaks to Venkatesh Raghavan about the present row with Twitter. Excerpts:
Q: What makes you take such a strong stand against Twitter? Don’t you feel you are taking a very harsh line of thought?
Vinit: I advocate that the Centre declare Twitter as a terrorist organisation and frame charges of sedition against those responsible for the platform’s public policy. I want people to get proactive in taking a stand against such anti-national activities.Would you tolerate someone who would take money, especially blood money, to promote the cause of separatist movements?” If you want a very clear picture, it would suffice to say that my recently conducted Zoom conference comprised a host of people who had already filed complaints against Twitter including FIRs and Public Interest Litigations (PILs). The recently held conference is still available for online viewing besides being live-streamed on Facebook.
Q: What is the course of action you seek to redress your grievance?
Vinit: We fervently seek intervention both from the legislative and judicial arms of the country. I aver that Twitter was responsible for wilfully collecting money from terrorist organisations to back separatist movements within the country despite this anomaly being brought to their notice through official channels. I have taken it up with the National Cyber Security Coordinator, Lt Gen. Pant. I want both Parliament and judiciary to pay urgent heed to the perils that this issue might cause.”
Q: What is your means of recourse and what chargers are you specifically pressing against Twitter?
Vinit: I have petitioned the apex court of the country to come out with explicit directives that can help the government check against seditious content that might appear either in the content or advertisements that might be displayed by Twitter. My contention is that this social media’s content is spreading hatred among communities, attracts the sedition clause, serves a separatist agenda, instigates people to act against the state (Union of India) and fosters divisiveness. The issue that I focus on is that the platform is supportive of a referendum that was being sought on the forming of Khalistan by separatist elements that subscribed to Twitter.
Talking of recourse, I have also egged the government to take action and treat the platform as a publisher and not a mere platform, meaning they should be held responsible for what appears the same way that media channels and print publications get treated.I demand that Twitter should be made to subscribe to corporate governance, which ensures transparency in the way reduction and increase of followers is being handled and also the blocking of accounts issue gets resolved. I would further like to point out that Twitter gained hugely from the Indian market and its income in the country should be taxed.
Q: How would you sum up your views on battling with Twitter over supporting seditious content?
Vinit: I would end on the note of a war cry akin to Winston Churchills’ “We will fight on the beaches, We will fight on the landing grounds….” I exhort: You can complain to Twitter. You can take it up in the courts. You can file an FIR with the local police station. You can file a e-complaint with the NIA. You can write to the Home Minister or Prime Minister. In the event you are unable to adopt any of this step, you can at least forward all the messages that you receive from our dedicated team who are keen on exposing and bringing to book this seditious act.
Very much informative book. Goyankaji – you are a transparent person as well as a healthy social activist. God bless you. Thanks for such a wonderful gift to the society.