VHP leader seeks action against Twitter over derogatory remark about Hindu goddess

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) spokesperson Vinod Bansal filed a complaint on Saturday (September 5) with the Delhi and Mumbai police against Twitter India, which allegedly allowed a derogatory remark about a Hindu goddess to remain on the platform.

The Indian Express said the comment had been made by Iranian-Canadian author Armin Navabi earlier this month.

Bansal, in his complaint, lashed out at officials of Twitter India for allowing the post to remain on the platform and not taking action against the author.

Taking to Twitter, he tagged External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, and requested them to book officials of the platform.

A formal complaint lodged with @DelhiPolice & @MumbaiPolice against @TwitterIndia for allowing @ArminNavabi on @Twitter under CC to embassador of Iran in Canada in India. Immediate Action solicited from @HMOIndia @DrSJaishankar @CanadianPM @HassanRouhani https://t.co/F1QMpxcLwq pic.twitter.com/5I6W5QZxxU

— विनोद बंसल (@vinod_bansal) September 4, 2020

“We request you to book officials of Twitter India for allowing such posts and not taking action against such account holders. Also, Twitter MUST have a policy of filtering the messages which are against a region and a state,” the complaint read.

He also attached a copy of the complaint to his tweet.

Bansal further alleged that the intent of the post by Armin Navabi was to “incite and provoke Hindus, break peace-harmony and create unrest in the society”.

“The image he has posted is published on Twitter, a social media platform and hence the officers of Twitter are equally liable for punishment of the above-mentioned provisions,” the complaint read, acccording to The Indian Express.