The government on Wednesday warned Twitter that the social networking website could face closure in India if it does not remove 28 web pages with objectionable content within the next 12 hours. The home ministry has asked the department of electronics and information technology (IT) to pass this directive to Twitter , which has steadfastly refused to block the 28 web pages whose removal was sought by the Indian government three days ago.

Facebook, too, said it will remove content, block pages or even disable accounts of those users who upload content that incite violence or perpetuate hate speech. Twitter has meanwhile promised to cooperate with the government after the Prime Minister's Office complained to it about objectionable content on six accounts resembling the PMO's official account. As the government blocked the six accounts after Twitter took no action, the social networking portal has communicated to the PMO that it would be locating the unlawful content. 

Meanwhile, the US has said it is not part of the Indian probe that is looking into doctored images and videos being uploaded on the Internet by elements in Pakistan to create social unrest in the country. "The Indian government itself is investigating, so we're going to let that go forward," US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said.