Bengaluru: In a massive embarrassment to the Delhi government headed by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, social media giant Facebook has refused to appear before Peace and Harmony Committee headed by AAP’s Raghav Chadda. 

The Committee had summoned Managing Director and Vice-President Ajit Mohan over complaints of ‘deliberate inaction’ by Facebook against hate speech that culminated in the Delhi riots.

In a slap to the government, Facebook said it has already appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee to participate in a hearing. 

In its statement, it noted, “The regulation of intermediaries like Facebook fall within the exclusive authority of the Union of India. Given that the matters are under consideration by Parliament, we object to the notice and request you recall it.”

It is interesting to note that the subject of law and order falls under the Central government. 

Raghav Chaddha, head of the committee said, “Facebook's letter is in disregard of committee's privilege. Facebook's refusal to appear before the committee is an attempt to conceal crucial facts in relation to its role in Delhi riots. Fresh summons will be issued to it in line with principles of natural justice.” 

Under the chairmanship of Shashi Tharoor, the Department Related Standing Committee for Information Technology, Facebook India managing director Ajit Mohan had accepted that he worked as a consultant for Kerala Congress, earlier this month. 

It is also interesting to note that Mohan was also involved with the Planning Commission and Ministry of Urban Development during the UPA government.

He had also told the committee that he had withdrawn all his articles written against the present-day government and Modi.

The meeting with the Facebook managing director was arranged in the wake of Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad writing a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, apprising him of bias of employees in the organisation and left-inclined fact-checkers are working so as to create an opinion against the Union government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.