| 21 June 2023
In a surprising turn of events, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's recent praise for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has triggered a heated exchange between political parties in India. While Union ministers celebrated Musk's positive remarks about India's potential, the Congress party launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of propagating "fake news."
During his visit to the United States, Prime Minister Modi met with prominent figures from various fields, including Elon Musk, who expressed his enthusiasm about India's future and described it as a country with immense promise. However, Musk's comments on Twitter and its compliance with local government regulations further ignited the controversy.
Musk stated that Twitter, the social media platform he owns, must abide by the laws of the countries in which it operates, including India. When asked about Jack Dorsey's recent allegations against the Indian government, Musk emphasized that Twitter had no choice but to comply with local regulations to avoid potential shutdowns.
The Congress party, through its spokesperson and social media head Supriya Shrinate, seized the opportunity to criticize the BJP. Shrinate labeled the BJP as "fake news peddlers" and questioned their embrace of Musk's statements. She drew parallels between Dorsey's claims of government pressure on Twitter during the farmers' protests and Musk's acknowledgment of complying with local laws, seeing both as threats to free speech in India.
The war of words escalated when Minister of State for Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar dismissed Dorsey's claims as an "outright lie" and accused Twitter under Dorsey's leadership of disregarding Indian law. This further fueled the ongoing political debate surrounding the influence of social media platforms and their compliance with national regulations.
In a separate video statement, Elon Musk also expressed admiration for Prime Minister Modi, noting his commitment to India and his efforts to attract significant investments. Musk specifically highlighted the potential for solar energy investments in India and described his discussions with the Prime Minister as excellent.
Union ministers, including Anurag Thakur, responded positively to Musk's praise for Modi. Thakur lauded Musk's remarks, viewing them as an endorsement of India's leadership and a sign of international recognition for the Prime Minister. Thakur expressed optimism about the ongoing visit of Prime Minister Modi to the US, anticipating a historic moment for India.
Prime Minister Modi's visit to the United States, scheduled from June 21-24, is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and fostering collaboration across various sectors. The meetings with thought leaders from diverse fields further underline India's pursuit of global engagement and its aspirations for future growth and development.
As the debate over social media regulation and freedom of expression intensifies, Elon Musk's comments have added fuel to the political fire in India. The clash between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress party reflects the wider tensions surrounding the role of social media platforms in India's democracy and the importance of upholding free speech while respecting national laws.
The events surrounding Elon Musk's remarks have not only highlighted the complexities of managing social media in a diverse democracy but have also drawn attention to the influence of international figures on India's political discourse. The ongoing discussions on this matter are likely to shape the future landscape of social media regulation in the country.
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