X to block over 8,000 accounts in India on government order
New Delhi: Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter and owned by billionaire Elon Musk, announced on Thursday that it will block over 8,000 accounts in India following executive orders from the Indian government. The move comes in the wake of the recent Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people and led to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, as well as a surge in misinformation online.
While X did not publicly name the accounts, it confirmed that the list includes "international news organisations and prominent X users." The platform said it had received no evidence or justification for a significant number of these accounts, raising concerns about the transparency of the government's directive.
The company emphasized that it will withhold the accounts only within India to comply with local laws and avoid potential penalties, including heavy fines and possible imprisonment of its local employees.
"This decision was not easy," X said in a statement. "We disagree with the Indian government's demands, which we believe amount to censorship of both existing and future content, and violate the fundamental right to free speech."
X has begun notifying affected users about the impending action and urged them to seek legal remedies through the courts. The platform reiterated its commitment to transparency and stressed the importance of public access to government orders, although it stated that legal constraints prevent the publication of the executive directives at this time.
The company also stated it is exploring all available legal avenues in response to the government's action.
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Mandaviya opens ESIC hospital in Doddaballapur, lays foundation for facility in Ballari
Bengaluru (PTI): Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday inaugurated the newly constructed 100-bedded ESIC Hospital at Doddaballapur near here.
He also laid the foundation stone for a 100-bedded ESIC Hospital at Ballari, remotely from Doddaballapur.
Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje, Chikkaballapura MP K. Sudhakar, and Doddaballapur MP Dheeraj Muniraju were among those present.
These healthcare facilities mark a significant milestone in strengthening healthcare delivery under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Scheme in the region, officials said at the event.
As a special gesture, the union minister of labour and employment also honoured construction workers who contributed to the development of the hospital and disbursed cash benefits to ESI beneficiaries during the event.
The Doddaballapur facility will serve over 1,42,037 insured workers and their families, benefiting approximately 5.5 lakh beneficiaries across Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, and Kolar districts, according to a release.
The Ballari facility, upon completion, will cater to the medical needs of around 64,000 workers and their families, benefiting over 2 lakh beneficiaries in the Ballari division, it said.
The ESIC Hospital at Doddaballapur in Bengaluru Rural is a 100-bedded multi-speciality secondary care facility built over 5 acres at Rs 101.14 crore.
It has 32 staff quarters and offers key services such as general medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, orthopaedics, emergency care, and comprehensive diagnostic facilities, including radiology, laboratory, and blood bank.
The proposed ESIC Hospital at Ballari will be developed on 5.21 acres at an estimated cost of Rs 150 crore and will provide modern healthcare services to insured persons and their families under the ESI Scheme.
