Derek O’Brien, the Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP and former Bourvita Quiz Master seems so engrossed with Twitter that he wants the Parliament to spare time for discussion about his experiences on the social media platform. As a result he wants to discuss which handles he finds offensive and which handles irritate him.
A couple of days ago, Derek O’Brien demanded in Rajya Sabha why Prashant Patel, a young lawyer who goes by the Twitter handle @ippatel was invited to the BJP’s social media meet. As per O’Brien’s claims, @ippatel is India’s ‘most ‘vilious, hatred spreading monger‘ (his words).
Derek though decided to take things to a new level to flaunt the privilege he has as an MP by threatening to name a twitter user in the parliament:
https://twitter.com/derekobrienmp/status/1022858000556384256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
As seen above, Derek decided to accuse a twitter user of lying about Omar Abdullah’s statement and as a result threatened that he would be mentioned in the Parliament.
It was indeed shocking to note that a senior MP wanted to use Parliament’s precious time to discuss social media disagreements and call out private citizens, who would be in no position to defend themselves from his attacks.
However, Twitter users did not take Derek’s threat lying down and decided to pay back in kind.
https://twitter.com/moronhumor/status/1022921968981614592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
West Bengal has many serious issues plaguing its citizens but their MP apparently seems to be prioritising his time in Parliament discussing Twitter.
https://twitter.com/theskindoctor13/status/1023047070494744576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
If Liam Neeson in the movie Taken was inspired by Derek, we would not have bothered to travel to Europe to look for his daughter.
https://twitter.com/indiantweeter/status/1022906507883507713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Rahul Raj who was earlier defamed by Derek in Parliament also decided to speak up.
https://twitter.com/bhak_sala/status/1022897768514244608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/Being_Humor/status/1022907819731943424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/DarrKeAage/status/1022882227267559424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
It seems every person not adhering to Derek’s views now risks finding his/her name mentioned in the parliament as an abusive troll.
https://twitter.com/NastikEngineer/status/1022895428134551552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/DEVenDrapai/status/1022917214834450432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Incidentally Derek has been a repeat offender when it comes to misusing his parliamentary privileges. Earlier too, he had defamed private citizens inside the parliament by alleging that they spread hatred on Twitter.
Such a modus oprandi might be a preferred route for him as whatever he alleges there cannot be legally used against him. Thus it is shocking to note that the TMC MP is deciding to use the constitutional privilege bestowed upon him as a tool to harass and abuse private citizens of the country, instead of trying to bring positive changes in people’s lives.