Ashish Joshi, the Controller of Communications Accounts for Uttarakhand State, Department of Telecom, has been suspended for flagging a video posted by Delhi MLA Kapil Mishra as ‘incendiary’, reports the Indian Express. Joshi flagged the video to Delhi Commissioner Police, but it is unclear if he reported it to YouTube as well.
It is important to note that Joshi’s suspension order does not mention a reason for his suspension. MediaNama could not ascertain the reason for Joshi’s suspension.
Govt suspends DoT official #AshishJoshi for reporting hate speech by @KapilMishra_IND https://t.co/p1ZP2D0xUw @Secretary_DoT @BDUTT @Nidhi @sardesairajdeep pic.twitter.com/C0ra8ZCcl8
— PKR | প্রশান্ত | پرشانتو (@prasanto) February 26, 2019
- The report points out that Joshi sent this letter to the Delhi Police chief Amulya Patnaik on a DoT letterhead.
- IE’s source says that Joshi was not summoned by the ministry or asked for an explanation for flagging the video
- A Ministry of Telecom official said that Joshi was suspended for “misuse of official position, creating public confusion and violation of conduct of rules.. In an official capacity.”
Joshi said that the video “provoking people to attack some citizens. The video violates IPC and IT Act.”
To@CPDelhi @DelhiPolice @DCP_CCC_Delhi ,
The video broadcast by @KapilMishra_IND warrants action against him under sections 153A for hate-mongering etc.
He has also violated the direction of Hon’ble Prime Minister @narendramodi @PMOIndia to not to attack #Kashmiris. https://t.co/MEKLSucIiI
— Ashish Joshi (@acjoshi) February 25, 2019
The inflammatory & incendiary video circulated by one Mr Kapil Mishra has been brought to the notice of Patnaik Sir! @CPDelhi . pic.twitter.com/7d62baw6pX
— Ashish Joshi (@acjoshi) February 25, 2019
Note that according to a tweet by Joshi, YouTube has taken down the video:
Thanks @YouTube for taking down the inflammatory/incendiary video of @KapilMishra_IND down
Will continue reporting such videos to @YouTube & @twitter w.r.t hate-mongering, women/minority bashing under IPC/IT Act in Public Interesthttps://t.co/WeJ2qPWYzL pic.twitter.com/RV5DlidDNd
— Ashish Joshi (@acjoshi) February 27, 2019
Complaints about abusive WhatsApp messages
Joshi was instrumental in letting WhatsApp users file a complaint with the Department of Telecom with regards to offensive/abusive messages they receive on WhatsApp earlier this week. The victim/receiver could email the DoT at “ccaddn-dot@nic.in” with a screenshot(s) of the message along with the sender’s mobile number. Joshi said the complaint would be taken up by telecom operators and police heads for necessary action. It is not clear what action would be taken after a user posted a complaint.
