Cong MLA Khaira’s tweet flagged by X
Senior Congress leader and Punjab MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira today said he received a notification from social media platform X (formerly Twitter), informing him that one of his tweets had been flagged by the Punjab Police’s State Cyber Crime Cell for allegedly violating Indian laws.
The platform, in its notification dated April 8, confirmed that while no action had been taken on the tweet, a formal legal request had been submitted by state authorities. The message included standard language used in such communications, reaffirming X’s commitment to transparency and protecting users’ rights.
Khaira, known for his outspoken criticism of the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, described the move as a politically motivated attempt to silence dissent. “This is not just an attack on me—it’s an attack on every Punjabi’s right to speak,” he said in a public statement issued here on Monday.
He alleged that the state government was misusing cybercrime mechanisms and legal instruments to suppress Opposition voices. The specific tweet in question has not been publicly disclosed, and the content remains visible and unrestricted on the platform as of now.
Linking the action to his continued criticism of state policies, Khaira said he has repeatedly raised concerns over drug trafficking, law enforcement inefficiencies, and administrative failures in
Punjab. “If the government can target a public representative over a tweet, what hope remains for the common citizen,” he asked.
The Congress has condemned the government’s action, demanding that the request be withdrawn. The party also appealed to civil society, media and human rights groups to speak out against what it described as a growing pattern of digital repression. “The attempt to intimidate elected representatives through digital surveillance and legal threats is deeply troubling for our democracy,” the Congress said in an official statement.
The Punjab government has not yet issued a formal response to Khaira’s allegations or the legal request initiated by the police.
Legal experts note that while Indian law—particularly provisions under the Information Technology Act—permits government agencies to request the removal of online content deemed unlawful, civil liberties organisations have repeatedly flagged concerns about potential misuse of these powers to curb political expression.
The development comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over online speech and digital freedoms in India, as state and Central governments continue to grapple with the challenges of balancing public order and national security with constitutionally guaranteed rights to free speech.
Ludhiana