Rahul Gandhi-Vijay Viral Reel Row: Instagram Blocks Video Amid BJP, Congress Tussle

Rahul Gandhi-Vijay Viral Reel ‘Blocked’? Congress Targets Instagram, Centre Denies Role A political controversy erupted yesterday when the Congress party alleged that Instagram temporarily blocked a viral social media post featuring Rahul Gandhi and newly sworn-in Tamil Nadu chief minister C. Joseph Vijay during the latter's oath-taking ceremony in Chennai. The viral reel and photo post shared by Rahul Gandhi were restricted due to alleged rules linked to the platform's 'Guidelines and Standards', as claimed by the Congress. The controversy began when Rahul Gandhi shared the post, which was later reported to have been restricted by Instagram. The Congress quickly took to social media to express their discontent, accusing the centre of orchestrating this move. The centre, however, has denied any involvement in the alleged blocking of Rahul Gandhi's post. The background to this controversy lies in the Centre's increasing attempts to regulate social media platforms in India. In recent times, the centre has been under fire for imposing strict guidelines on social media platforms, with several instances of alleged censorship of opposition voices emerging. The Congress party has long accused the centre of trying to muzzle dissenting voices on social media. This alleged move to block Rahul Gandhi's post is seen as the latest in a series of attempts by the centre to exert control over the social media narrative. The Congress has repeatedly accused the centre of trying to undermine the party's online presence and influence. The blocking of Rahul Gandhi's post has significant implications for Indian citizens, who rely heavily on social media for news and information. The alleged move has sparked concerns over the centre's intentions to regulate online content and its potential impact on free speech in the country. Opposition leaders have taken to the streets to protest against the alleged move, with several calling for greater transparency in the centre's decision-making process. The Congress has also accused the centre of attempting to stifle the opposition's online presence, which could have far-reaching implications for India's democratic landscape. As the controversy rages on, it is clear that there are two sides to this story. On one side, the Congress party sees the alleged blocking of Rahul Gandhi's post as a direct attack on their online presence and an attempt to stifle dissenting voices. On the other side, the centre claims that it had no involvement in the alleged blocking of the post and that the move was made by Instagram in accordance with its guidelines. We ask our readers, do you think the centre is trying to suppress dissenting voices on social media? Share