Explained: Why Congress’ Twitter handles have been blocked over KGF music

The Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra, which began in Kanyakumari on 7 September and now entered Maharashtra, has been making news as Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders traverse the 3,570-km-long yatra. Through the yatra, the party and Rahul, in particular, has been meeting with locals and connecting with them — which is clearly displayed on their social media handles.

However, the yatra has now been hit with controversy after a Bengaluru court on Monday ordered the temporary blocking of the Congress party and its mass mobilisation campaign Bharat Jodo Yatra on Twitter over a copyright infringement.

Also read: Why ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ is a result of Congress buying its own propaganda

What’s the copyright violation case filed against the Congress? What happens next? We examine and give you the answers.

The copyright violation

The Bengaluru court’s action of blocking @INCIndia and @BharatJodo on Twitter until 21 November — the next hearing — comes on the complaint filed by MRT Music, a Bengaluru-based music label, against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Supriya Srinate and Jairam Ramesh for copyright infringement.

In its complaint filed at Yashwanthpur police station under the provisions of Copyright Act, the Information Technology Act and the Indian Penal Code on 4 November, the music company said it invested huge sums of money to acquire the rights of the songs of super-hit film KGF 2 in Hindi.

MRT Music alleges that the party picked up songs from the movie without seeking its permission and has used them to create marketing videos of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, featuring Rahul Gandhi.

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