Bengaluru, April 3 (NationPress) Priyank Kharge, the Karnataka Minister for IT, Biotechnology, Rural Development, and Panchayat Raj, expressed his concerns regarding the Centre’s online content regulation policies on Friday. He referenced the US Trade Representative's 2026 National Trade Estimate Report, which has highlighted issues within India's content takedown framework.

Kharge pointed out that the report indicates an increasing number of requests faced by US companies to remove online content and user accounts that appear to be politically motivated.

He stressed that these takedown actions, conducted under the IT Rules, have been categorized as non-tariff trade barriers, alongside frequent internet shutdowns.

With reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's earlier statement that "criticism is the soul of democracy," Kharge accused the current Union government of normalizing the suppression of dissent.

He alleged that critical voices are being "buried without hesitation," raising alarms about the recent proposals from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) seeking amendments to the IT Rules, 2021.

According to Kharge, the suggested changes would empower the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to issue blocking orders for news content published by non-publishers, effectively putting independent voices under direct control.

He also claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) IT Cell operates without sufficient oversight.

In his remarks, Kharge indicated that these developments suggest a growing strength of dissenting voices and accused the BJP of being "afraid" of rising criticism.

On the topic of the Kerala elections, Kharge stated, "I have spent several days in Kerala, and the sentiments I observe indicate that a decade of LDF governance has resulted in unfulfilled promises and quiet exploitation."

He added, "Across various sectors and communities, people feel let down. The youth are compelled to leave their homes in search of jobs, while those who remain confront rising drug abuse and dwindling opportunities."

"Public health is struggling due to deteriorating infrastructure, and families are being driven into debt from a single medical emergency," Minister Kharge remarked.

He criticized the CPI-M for allegedly exploiting the sacred Sabarimala temple, stating, "They have attacked the faith of every Ayyappa devotee without remorse."

Kharge concluded, "Throughout this turmoil, the CPI-M and BJP have been covertly supporting each other in Assembly seats, promoting divisive politics, and facilitating each other's corruption. The alliance between the Communist Party and BJP is evident, and the people of Kerala are recognizing it. Undoubtedly, there is a strong wave of support for UDF across the state."