Messenger service WhatsApp has blocked TDP MP Chintakunta Munaiah Ramesh’s official number for allegedly violating its terms and conditions. Shocked by the blockade, the MP has alleged a political conspiracy.
“I hardly use my WhatsApp account. It is linked to my official number and I was added as a member in many official groups of Rajya Sabha members. I use this app to communicate official messages related to TDP,” TOI quoted him saying.
Ramesh said that he tried reaching out to WhatsApp's help centre seeking clarification, however, to no avail. Agitated by this, he said that he will take up the issue in court and also raise the issue in Parliament.
“I never misused the mobile application and have never sent objectionable content to anyone from this number. I will fight it in the court and raise this issue in Parliament,” the MP added.
After the BJP-led Centre denied Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh, Ramesh had gone on a 10-day hunger strike in June last year, demanding the Centre grant Steel Plant in Kadapa as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act.
The messaging platform, releasing a white paper, said that over 75 percent of such accounts were blocked without needing a user report while 20 percent were caught and blocked at the time of registration.
The organisation said that it detects abuse, bulk messages, automated behaviour from accounts that send high volume of messages.
It can be recalled that after a series of mob lynchings across the country, as a result of fake messages, the Centre had asked WhatsApp to come up with effective solutions to battle the menace.