The hacking of the Congress Vice President's Twitter account led to twin probes by the Delhi Police and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY) following a complaint by the party.
IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the matter is being taken very "seriously" and prompt action has been taken. "We are seeking the details of all those who logged in that twitter account in the last one week to probe it further."
Blaming "fascist" forces for the hacking, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said it reflects the extremities of an intolerant culture that resorts to abuse when cornered and claimed the party has fought such "hatred and animosity" with Gandhian compassion and tolerance.
He also said this exposes cyber security network in India and its weaknesses.
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Surjewala confirmed that first @OfficeOfRG and then @INCIndia twitter accounts were hacked by "lumpen fascists".
Surjewala said he has filed a complaint on behalf of Congress to Delhi police and said the onus is on Modi government to ensure digital security and punish the guilty.
"Free speech and right to disagree in India is under attack by licensed trolls. Such despotic and vulgar attempts reflect the extremities of an intolerant culture that resorts to abuse when cornered and left answer less," he said.
He also tweeted, "Cyber attacks on @INCIndia and @OfficeOfRG exposes the vulnerability of cyber security and Digital platforms in India. An eye opener for Modiji!."
Earlier, Gandhi tweeted, "To every one of you haters out there. I love all of you. You're beautiful. Your hatred just doesn't let you see it yet."
Congress later tweeted, "Hello everyone! We are back. The tweets in the morning lacked wit, evidently. Anyway, Mr Modi, back to people's questions, care to answer?."
their end, but the accounts may have been compromised through breach of e-mail.
"As far twitter account of Rahul Gandhi is concerned, when it came to my notice, I took it very seriously. Twitter representative of India was contacted and all offending tweets were removed," Prasad said.
Allaying fears about the cyber security system, Prasad said, "I want to assure the country that our cyber security mechanism is fine. We are taking all steps to further reinforce it. When this kind of thing take place we take prompt measures."
"We also came to know that Congress has lodged an FIR in the case. Whatever is possible on our part, we will cooperate with Delhi Police IT cell for this," he added.
Congress MP Deepender Hooda said the hacking incident only exposes the perils of the digital world and the cyber security that is existing in our country.
Taking potshot at the Modi government's Digital India move, he said, "It also exposes the hollowness of the digital India. There is a question mark on the whole push going towards digital as your server is not safe."
Surjewala, in his complaint today, told the police about the hacking of the verified twitter account of Indian National Congress i.E. @INCIndia (twitter.Com/IncIndia) as also the website i.E. Www.Inc.In and consequent email account of Indian National Congress i.E. Outreach@inc.In.
"Ilk of BJP MP's & central committee members should stop rumour mongering to protect hackers & divert attention.Pl worry about Digital safety," he tweeted.
Congress had raised questions on the digital safety of all Indians and said it reflects disturbing insecurities of the prevalent "fascist culture" in the country.
Gandhi's account was hacked last night around 8.45 PM and some messages with profanities were put out, but these were deleted soon thereafter.
"Such unscrupulous, unethical and roguish conduct of venal trolls to hack Rahul Gandhi's Twitter handle reflects disturbing insecurities of prevalent fascist culture."
Congress President Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel also tweeted, "The way @OfficeOfRG a/c got hacked, as cybercrime and Twitter watched helpless raises serious Q's on digital safety, Digital India future."
"Those forcing country to adopt online payment overnight, have they taken steps to ensure a/c of ordinary ppl will be immune from hacking?," he also said.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said some things are "inevitable" in the cyber world.
"Hacking happens. It has happened to me and so to others. At the same time, Twitter is a relatively secure platform and this suggests that there were some significant forces behind it," he said.
Another Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury said it is high time that the government gets its act together and questioned whether there has been an intelligence failure.
"You have a PM who is sitting and saying I am not safe, there is a risk to my life. It's not that some tiny hacker has gotten into it. You need high technology. Is there an intelligence failure in the country that they (govt) do not who did this. I suggest that this government should get its act together," she said.