BJP’s Telangana MLA Raja Singh denies posting inflammatory content

Hyderabad, Aug 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) BJP's lone Telangana MLA, T. Raja Singh, who is at the centre of a controversy that erupted after a report in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said Facebook's content policies favoured the BJP, has denied making any social media posts which have the potential to whip up communal passions.

With his name figuring in the WSJ report, Singh posted a video on his Twitter account claiming he never posted any inflammatory content on social media.

Singh, who is known for making controversial comments and was also booked by the Police on several occasions, even claimed his official Facebook account was hacked and blocked in 2018.

The US publication, in the report published on Friday, quoted unnamed Facebook insiders saying that one of the India policy executives intervened in an internal communication to stop a permanent ban on Raja Singh after he allegedly posted communal and divisive content.

The report claimed Facebook deliberately ignored disruptive content from members of the ruling BJP as well as right-wing voices and groups who have been flagged internally.

The report has triggered a political controversy with the Congress and the BJP hurling barbs at each other.

The Congress on Tuesday wrote a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg asking him to set up a high-level inquiry into the Facebook India leadership team and their operations in light of the WSJ report.

The BJP leader, who represents Goshamahal constituency in Hyderabad, also said there were several Facebook accounts being run in the country in his name and he can't be held responsible for the comments posted on these pages.

"I am being projected as if I am the most dangerous person in the entire world and whenever I post something on social media, something or the other happens. I work in the interest of the nation and dharma. Cite at least one instance where there was a riot because of my statement," he asked.

"There are many Facebook accounts in my name. I can't be held responsible for what they post. I can't stop them from posting something. If they like or share something, I can't be blamed for that," he said.

Saying he has only one official YouTube and a Twitter account, Singh said he never posted anything provocative on these platforms.

The BJP leader said he had only one official Facebook account but it was hacked and blocked in 2018. "I lodged a complaint with the Cyberabad Police Commissioner but there was no response," he added.

Singh alleged there were many leaders in the country who were making inflammatory speeches. He also targeted All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leaders Asaduddin Owaisi and Akbaruddin Owaisi saying they make provocative speeches and operate social media accounts and channels but no action was taken against them.

Source: IANS