NEW DELHI, Dec 1:
A day after the hacking of Rahul Gandhi’s Twitter account, the official Twitter account of Indian National Congress was also hacked today with the party saying some messages laden with expletives and profanities were posted online.
The hacking of the Congress Vice President’s Twitter account led to twin probes by the Delhi Police and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY) following a complaint by the party.
IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the matter is being taken very “seriously” and prompt action has been taken. “We are seeking the details of all those who logged in that twitter account in the last one week to probe it further.”
Gandhi’s Twitter account was hacked last night and some obscene remarks were put out online for around an hour. Today, his email was also hacked, the party claimed.
Blaming “fascist” forces for the hacking, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said it reflects the extremities of an intolerant culture that resorts to abuse when cornered and claimed the party has fought such “hatred and animosity” with Gandhian compassion and tolerance.
He also said this exposes cyber security network in India and its weaknesses.
The Congress filed a complaint with the Cyber cell of Delhi Police on the hacking of the two twitter accounts, the party website and the email accounts of Congress and Rahul Gandhi. The complaint was filed by Surjewala, demanding registration of a criminal case and strict action against those behind the hacking.
The Delhi police, on its part, initiated a probe into the incident and has written to the management of the social media site seeking necessary details. A case has been registered in the Economic Offences wing under Section 66 of IT Act.
Surjewala confirmed that first @OfficeOfRG and then @INCIndia twitter accounts were hacked by “lumpen fascists”.
Surjewala said he has filed a complaint on behalf of Congress to Delhi police and said the onus is on Modi government to ensure digital security and punish the guilty.
“Free speech and right to disagree in India is under attack by licensed trolls. Such despotic and vulgar attempts reflect the extremities of an intolerant culture that resorts to abuse when cornered and left answer less,” he said.
“Indian National Congress has fought such hatred and animosity with Gandhian compassion and tolerance. ‘Sabko sanmati de bhagwaan’ (May God give better sense to all),” Surjewala said on Twitter.
He also tweeted, “Cyber attacks on @INCIndia and @OfficeOfRG exposes the vulnerability of cyber security and Digital platforms in India. An eye opener for Modiji!.”
Earlier, Gandhi tweeted, “To every one of you haters out there. I love all of you. You’re beautiful. Your hatred just doesn’t let you see it yet.”
Congress later tweeted, “Hello everyone! We are back. The tweets in the morning lacked wit, evidently. Anyway, Mr Modi, back to people’s questions, care to answer?.”
The Ministry of Electronics and IT has started probe into hacking of Gandhi’s official Twitter account. (PTI)
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