TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien, who some years ago was in the business of asking questions and demanding answers from school kids, yesterday made childish accusations against some Twitter users, including against OpIndia co-founder Rahul Raj, accusing them of issuing criminal threats to other people while being followed by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.
Lowering down the dignity of the house, Derek quoted a propaganda material written by an abusive troll that ironically terms some Twitter users as trolls. This is akin to an MP quoting a pamphlet printed by ISIS to claim that Barack Obama was a terrorist. What next? An MP quoting a WhatsApp forward to make a point?
Unfortunately, while the politicians defend their own ilk and insist on quoting cogent materials in the house when one of their own is targeted, Derek was able to get away after quoting unreliable propaganda material to target private citizens. However, outside the house, on Twitter, he was nailed for his lies.
Among the first one to confront him was Rahul Raj himself, who exposed the lies of Derek:
https://twitter.com/bhak_sala/status/827133237554192384
It was a clear case of intimidation of voices that don’t agree with the politics of likes of Derek. People could see the agenda of this “ecosystem” that is powerful as ever.
https://twitter.com/jsaideepak/status/827172596772962306
https://twitter.com/DOCTORATLARGE/status/827372783671840769
https://twitter.com/Infinitchy/status/827173733647257600
https://twitter.com/ravithinkz/status/827373077243756548
https://twitter.com/ajayendar/status/827165680856363009
What made matters worse, was that the issue was raised in the parliament where those accused were not present to defend themselves. The constitution virtually allows the MPs the freedom to malign ordinary citizens as they can not be dragged to courts for their deeds and statements issued on the floor of the house.
https://twitter.com/rupasubramanya/status/827164090674139136
Shocked at this behaviour of an unelected member of the parliament, people demanded that he should tender an apology for his defamatory remarks.
https://twitter.com/anuraag_saxena/status/827236706029953024
Over 1400 people had already signed the petition demanding an apology from Derek O’Brien at the time this report was published.
And as it happens on Twitter, other users took to sarcasm and humour to drill some sense in thick head of the TMC MP, who had earlier thought that PM Modi was planning an army coup in West Bengal, and others supporting his lies:
https://twitter.com/coolfunnytshirt/status/827182113539493888
https://twitter.com/MrTippler/status/827183441149964289
https://twitter.com/GappistanRadio/status/827140120755068928
https://twitter.com/Ra_Bies/status/827199742085967872
https://twitter.com/SmokingSkills_/status/827364810090176513
https://twitter.com/Being_Humor/status/827229842663997440
https://twitter.com/LOLiyapa/status/827175435544956928