Govt issues notice to Twitter for showing Leh in Jammu and Kashmir

The central government has issued a notice to Twitter to show Leh a part of Jammu and Kashmir instead of Ladakh and warned of legal action. Sources in the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said in a notice sent to the global vice president of Twitter on November 9 that the ministry said it was an attempt to undermine the will of the Indian Parliament for sovereignty.

The Parliament has declared Ladakh as a Union Territory and Leh is its headquarters. But Twitter has described Leh as part of Jammu and Kashmir. 

The ministry has asked Twitter within five days to explain why legal action should not be taken against it and its employees for playing with the integrity of India by showing a wrong map.

Action will be taken against this omission of Twitter under Section 69A of the IT Act, which provides for imprisonment for six months. 

A Twitter spokesperson on the matter said that, in the Jammu case, we have replied to the letter. The spokesman further said that Twitter is committed to public interaction and partnership with the IT Ministry.

Earlier in a live broadcast, Twitter had shown Leh part of China. After which the IT Ministry wrote a strong objection to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey by writing a letter. Later, Twitter also apologized before the Joint Parliamentary Committee.

Twitter, while clarifying the matter, said that "we got information about this technical issue, we understand and respect the sentiments related to it." Our team has done it quickly to investigate and resolve. Our team, Leh, which is being described as part of China, is working to fix it. ”

In the first letter written by the ministry's secretary Ajay Prakash Sahni, it was requested by Twitter to remind that Leh is the headquarters of the Union Territory of Ladakh. It said that both Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir are integral and inseparable parts of India and are governed by the Indian Constitution.

Sahni had warned that such misrepresentation would tarnish the reputation of Twitter, as well as the government's request to respect the sensitivity of Indians. Sahni also wrote that any attempt by Twitter to disrespect the sovereignty and integrity of India is unacceptable and illegal.

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