Smriti Irani asked the Rajya Sabha Chairman to expunge the name taken by Derek O'Brien.
Union Minister Smriti Irani, sharply rebutting Trinamool Congress lawmaker Derek O'Brien in parliament today, appeared to defend a man linked to one of the controversial Twitter handles named for rape threats and communal propaganda. Urging the Rajya Sabha chairman to delete that name from yesterday's records, Ms Irani said, "An individual was named yesterday by my colleague Derek O'Brien, that individual is not a politician, not a celebrity...he's a common citizen who has the right to free speech but does not enjoy the privilege of this house."
The Textiles Minister added, "As the convention of this house, I am beseeching you, kindly expunge the name of an individual as you've done on many occasions so the individual who cannot defend himself do so."
Mr O'Brien had, on Thursday, raised the subject of Twitter trolls and their alleged connection to the ruling BJP, and said some of them were invited to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's house for a "nice social digital party."
He said, "Twenty six Twitter handles that give out rape threats, communal threats are followed by the Prime Minister of India. 26. Two of these handles have been suspended by Twitter. Now this is not Trinamool or Congress or CPM or DMK, this is an international company called Twitter."
The opposition lawmaker went on to name some of the handles that he said had been suspended by Twitter - @Bhak_sala, used by Rahul Raj, and Mahiviram.
"Where are we headed, sir? And these twitter trolls, they are paid handles. And they are invited and this is not some private thing, they are public information, it is even published now in a book. They are invited now to the Prime Minister's house for a nice social digital media party," he charged, referring to a party that the Prime Minister hosted two years ago for 150 "social media influencers" and allegations that the list included notorious "trolls".
Smriti Irani didn't name anyone but did draw a "thank you" on Twitter.
"Thanks a lot @smritiirani ma'am. Thanks a lot. You spoke for the millions of commoners like me," tweeted Rahul Raj.
Based in Bengaluru, Rahul Raj runs a site called OpIndia. He is accused of pushing a communal line with his posts. He also hit out at Mr O'Brien, asserting that his account was never suspended by Twitter.