@PMOIndia becomes ‘archive,’ sparks controversy

New Delhi: As BJP’s Prime Ministerial designate Narendra Modi gears up to take charge for the post of the Prime Minister of India, following his victory,a fresh controversy creates headlines. This time it’s a twitter handle’s ownership that has now waged a debate.

On Tuesday, the PMO’s twitter handle was changed from @PMOIndia to @PMOIndiaArchive. The biography of the twitter handle said, “Archival material under the RTI Act for @PMOIndia till 20/5/2014. @PMOIndia will be available shortly.”

Soon after this change was made, this matter took centre stage on twitter, with different views – some opposing, some supporting which kept on buzzing the social networking site. BJP leaders got to twitter with their tweets opposing this act.

BJP’s National Spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted, “Isn’t @PMOIndia for communication from the Prime Minister’s Office? An institutional handle which should continue seamlessly.Surprised!”

Senior BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi called it ‘disgraceful,’ ‘unethical,’ and ‘illegal. ’

BJP senior leader Meenakshi Lekhi said, “What else happened with the PM account @PMO is disgraceful unethical and illegal. “The account should have been archived correctly as that account is an asset of the nation. It’s a national asset and that national asset should have been handed over in the correct format to the new government and the PMO,” she told News Agency ANI.

Twitter kept buzzing the whole day due to the renaming of the PMO twitter handle and several theories regarding it made rounds across the twitter platform.

@PMOIndiaArchive continued to have 1.24M followers, less than that of upcoming Prime Minister NarendraModi which has 4.28M followers.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Communications Advisor Pankaj Pachauri tweet of 20^th May says, “All official communications from the PMO in print and in digital form are being archived according to the RTI act.” Pachauri’s statement further said, “Copyrights and control remain with the Prime Minister’s office. These are PMO properties and the Prime Minister’s office continues to manage then. The handover is being facilitated for the next administration. This is the first time such handover is taking place.”

The Times of India quoted Cyber Law Expert Pavan Duggal who called the act “mishandling of digital assets.”

Media Watcher tweeted, “@narendramodigovtshud immediately write to Twitter USA to regain control.”

Niti Digital’s Chief Digital Officer Shashi Shekhar tweeted, “Immature & graceless conduct by former handlers of @pmoindia Can you imagine a @WhiteHouse being claimed by all and sundry during transition. The @pmoindia handle should have been treated as a National Digital Asset and transitioned accordingly instead of leaving it open to claims.”

A press release was issued yesterday by the PMO.

“Over the last two years, our engagement with general public has increased multi-fold due to social media outreach. Currently we have four internet based platforms:-

(i) Official website- pmindia.gov.in

(ii) Twitter- @PMOlndiaArchive 

(iii) Facebook Page- www.facebook.com/PMOfficeIndia and

(iv) Youtube Channel- www.youtube.PMofficeindia.

The twitter account @PMOIndia has been secured by Twitter and they are assisting in the handover of the same to this office to be available to the incoming PMO administration along with its followers. The existing material on Dr. Manmohan Singh will be separately available under a new account on Twitter.

All PMO internet based platforms and communications therein will continue to remain under the administrative control and management of the PMO after the change–over of the Government.

The transfer of these digital assets to the incoming PMO administration has been arranged. The archiving process is underway so that all archived material can also be available to the public,” said the Press Release.

Narendra Modi is going to swear-in as the Prime Minister of India on the 26^th of May. As of now it is not clear whether or not the twitter account is going to be handled over to Narendra Modi and his administration. From the current scenario it seems that Narendra Modi will have to start a new twitter account for the PMO.

• About the Author

About Suyash Karangutkar

Suyash Karangutkar is a young, dedicated and an enthusiastic journalist who has a deep interest in National and International Affairs. He is an ardent political spectator who finds politics fascinating. At Spectralhues, he heads the Mumbai team and covers National Affairs & Politics. He also occasionally writes columns for Spectralhues. He can be followed on Twitter @columnistsuyash