Twitter war between Rahul Gandhi, Ravi Shankar Prasad over Facebook data leak scandal

NEW DELHI: In the wake of alleged misuse of user data on Facebook, Twitterati witnessed a war of words between the Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Union Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. Attacking the ruling government, Rahul questioned the Centre over pending court cases and appointment of judges to Supreme Court and High Courts.

Rahul's attack came following a political slugfest continues between the ruling BJP and the Congress over allegations that the opposition party has engaged the services of British consulting firm Cambridge Analytica with an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

"Legal system collapsing under Pending Cases: Supreme Court 55,000+, High Court 37 Lakh+, Lower Courts 2.6 Crore+. Yet, a staggering 400 High Court and 6,000 Lower Court judges not appointed, while Law Minister preoccupied peddling fake news," Gandhi tweeted.

Legal system collapsing under Pending Cases:

Supreme Court
55,000 +

High Court
37 Lakh +

Lower Courts
2.6 Crore +

Yet, a staggering 400 High Court and 6,000 Lower Court judges not appointed, while Law Minister preoccupied peddling fake news. #JudiciaryDemonetised pic.twitter.com/qSpKcIuPKW — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 24, 2018

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over delay in appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts, he said "Justice K M Joseph, overturned President's rule in Uttarakhand in 2016. When his name was proposed for the Supreme Court, Modi jis ego was hurt. Approval of over 100 judges, cleared for the Supreme Court and various High Courts are now on hold. #JudiciaryDemonetised(sic)."

Justice K M Joseph, overturned President’s rule in Uttarakhand in 2016.

When his name was proposed for the Supreme Court, Modi ji‘s ego was hurt.

Approval of over 100 judges, cleared for the Supreme Court and various High Courts are now on hold.#JudiciaryDemonetised — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 24, 2018

Prasad replied Rahul in a series of tweets. "Mr. Rahul Gandhi, the notice given to Cambridge Analytica for Data Manipulation has naturally worried you. Angry, frustrated and apprehensive, you are now dragging the judiciary. Deeply reprehensible," he wrote.

Mr Rahul Gandhi, maintaining your track record your team has failed you once again by not doing their homework. Average appointments of High Court Judges under UPA-1 was 86 per year, and in UPA-2 it was 79 per year. Under NDA it has been 109 per year. pic.twitter.com/84QX8RK0jC — Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) March 24, 2018

In 2016 a record 126 High Court Judges were appointed in one year- highest since independence.
Since May 2014 NDA Govt appointed 17 SC Judges, 326 HC judges & made 304 additional judges permanent & also created 173 new posts of High Court Judges, compared to 20 created in UPA 2 pic.twitter.com/PoummhmylL — Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) March 24, 2018

Providing data and a number charts, the union minister said that the pendency of cases and appointment of judges was a legacy of the UPA government. The BJP is working hard to improve the situation, he added.

Mr Rahul Gandhi, pendency is the legacy which UPA Govt of 10years had given us where judicial infrastructure development was the lowest priority. We r improving the situation by creating more infrastructure, more digitization & greater technology application in disposal of cases pic.twitter.com/VEQ2ak8WRr — Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) March 24, 2018

"Mr Rahul Gandhi, maintaining your track record your team has failed you once again by not doing their homework. Average appointments of High Court Judges under UPA-1 was 86 per year, and in UPA-2 it was 79 per year. Under NDA it has been 109 per year," he wrote in another tweet.