Mumbai, July 29: Sanjay Nirupam, a spokesperson for the Shiv Sena, has expressed sharp criticism regarding the paper leak controversy in Punjab and the removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s video from Facebook. He stated that just as the central government acted in response to public sentiment during the NEET paper leak incident, the Punjab government should also take moral responsibility in this matter. He condemned the removal of the Prime Minister’s video as contrary to democratic values and called for a fair investigation into the issue.
Nirupam highlighted that the NEET paper leak had sparked widespread protests among students and youth across the nation. In response to this public movement, the government accepted the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a decision that has been praised nationwide. He emphasized that governments should make decisions in line with public sentiment and moral responsibilities in a democratic system.
He further stated that if similar incidents of paper leaks and alleged cheating have occurred in Punjab, the state government should demonstrate the same level of moral integrity. Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, had previously supported the call for the education minister’s resignation. Therefore, with the Aam Aadmi Party now in power in Punjab, he should also demand the resignation of his education minister. Failure to do so would render future demands for accountability mere political theatrics.
Regarding the removal of Prime Minister Modi’s video from Facebook, Nirupam described it as a serious and concerning issue. He noted that social media platforms are considered avenues for democratic expression, where individuals can share their thoughts, videos, and images. The removal of the Prime Minister’s video raises numerous questions. Nirupam questioned what forces pressured Meta and Facebook to take down the video. He asserted that this situation cannot simply be attributed to a technical error.
He stated that it is appropriate for the Indian government’s IT ministry to send notices to Meta officials seeking clarification. He challenged Meta’s initial explanation of a “technical glitch,” arguing that the matter cannot be dismissed so easily. If external pressures or influences led to this action, a thorough investigation must be conducted, and necessary actions should follow. Should it be proven that Facebook removed the Prime Minister’s video under foreign pressure, India has options to take stringent measures against such platforms. Social media companies must respect Indian laws and democratic values and refrain from making decisions influenced by bias or external pressures.
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