On Twitter, hashtags like #Emergency2012, #GOIBlocks, GOI, #twitter and #news became trending topics.
"Ministers don't want to speak in Parliament, They don't want people to speak on twitter," read a tweet. "They can block my twitter, my FB, my Blog, my Email BUT They can NEVER EVER block my mind," said another.
Another user tweeted "#GOIBlocks is too busy blocking Twitter accounts, no time for Swiss accounts".
There were reports that the government has asked Internet service providers to block select 16 Twitter accounts, including that of some journalists.
"Ironically, let me clarify on Twitter that there is absolutely no intent of the government to curb freedom of social media platforms," Minister of State for Communications and IT Milind Deora tweeted.
A Home Ministry spokesperson earlier in the day refuted the reports saying security agencies wanted withdrawal of those webpages where offending images and videos were uploaded. "Government is not blocking any individual Twitter account," he said.
Twitter has conveyed that it is facing technical difficulties in blocking certain webpages where morphed and inflammatory images were uploaded and has sought time to do it.
The government, however, has made it clear that the social networking site has to withdraw them or face punitive action.
The government had already ordered blocking of 310 webpages where morphed and inflammatory contents were uploaded allegedly with the aim to incite Muslims in India leading to the mass exodus of people of the northeastern region from places in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
The government, in the past, has raised concerns about inappropriate content on social networking sites. Internet giants like Facebook and Google have said they are working with the government to remove such content.
