Sushma Swaraj on a blocking spree on Twitter – Isn’t it unfair to do so as a Minister?

by Sam Jawed

External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj has stirred up a twitter storm by blocking some popular right-wing handles on Twitter. The block feature on twitter allows users to block other users from interacting with them or viewing their tweets. There are times when we have all felt annoyed by certain tweets and have resorted to blocking people and thereby restricting the access they have to our tweets. But should a Union minister block citizens from following her on Twitter? What has led to this kneejerk response?

Sushma Swaraj runs a very popular twitter handle with close to 11 million followers. Many people reach out to her via twitter. Lost a passport in a foreign country? Need to travel on an emergency? Need consular access on a holiday? Whatever the issue for Indian citizens abroad, Sushma Swaraj was always a click away, resolving problems with a warm, personal touch. Though her personal intervention in individual cases won her much acclaim, she also invited criticism from those who argued that her talent was severely underutilized in the ministry.

It is however her assistance to Pakistani citizens that earned her the ire of her right wing supporters and made her a target of incessant trolling with tweets like, “Those who promised to bring us ten heads in retaliation for one are distributing visas to our enemy state,” “You criticise or trash Medical Maata @SushmaSwaraj You will be instantly blocked by her.. even though shes a public offficer…”

Since the time India tightened its visa policy for Pakistani nationals, many Pakistanis have approached Sushma Swaraj on twitter for help with acquiring medical visa on humanitarian grounds. The fact that she has been equanimous and considerate in her approach has earned her the ire of many right-wing twitterati, terming her “Medical Mata” and “Visa Mata”. The recent treatment of Kulbhushan Jadav’s family by Pakistan further aggravated matters.

Here are some of the tweets which led to these people being blocked, and their subsequent reactions.

Ironically many of those who are mocking Swaraj and have been blocked by her are staunch supporters of her own party, some even followed by Prime Minister Modi on Twitter.

Swaraj has been sensitive to criticism and has blocked in the past as well. Anoo Bhuyan, a journalist, who was earlier blocked has since then been unblocked.

Alt News believes that whatever the nature and extent of provocation, a minister should not block a citizen from access. To be at the receiving end of vicious trolling can be a frustrating experience, but as a public official in a domain that requires active intervention and outreach at key moments, Ms. Swaraj’s selective barring of individuals who disagree with her actions and thoughts is disadvantageous to citizens.

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Nobody's cheerleader, I tweet at @samjawed65