Congress’ X accounts earlier operated from abroad, now India: BJP
In a recent statement, BJP MP Sambit Patra has accused the Opposition of insulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India by seeking help from foreign forces and manipulating social media narratives. Patra’s claims are based on the location feature of X, a social media platform, which allegedly shows that some Congress accounts were earlier operated from abroad before changing their location to India.
According to Patra, the BJP’s X account consistently shows its location as India, which is expected since the party is based in the country. However, he claimed that the account of Pawan Khera, a Congress leader, earlier showed its location as the United States. Similarly, the Maharashtra Congress’ X account allegedly showed its location as Ireland before it was changed to India.
Patra’s allegations suggest that the Congress party is relying on foreign forces to manage its social media presence and influence public opinion in India. He claimed that this is an insult to Prime Minister Modi and the country, as it implies that the Opposition is unable to garner support from within India and needs to rely on external help.
The BJP MP’s statement has sparked a controversy, with many questioning the authenticity of his claims. Some have pointed out that the location feature on X can be easily manipulated, and it is possible that the Congress accounts were operated by individuals or teams based in India who were accessing the platform through virtual private networks (VPNs) or other tools that can mask their location.
Others have argued that even if the Congress accounts were earlier operated from abroad, it does not necessarily mean that the party is seeking help from foreign forces. Many Indian citizens live and work abroad, and it is possible that they are operating the accounts as part of their role in the party’s social media team.
Despite these counterarguments, Patra’s claims have highlighted the importance of social media in Indian politics. With millions of Indians active on platforms like X, Twitter, and Facebook, social media has become a key battleground for political parties seeking to influence public opinion and garner support.
The use of social media by political parties in India has grown exponentially in recent years, with many parties investing heavily in building their online presence. The BJP, in particular, has been credited with using social media effectively to reach out to its supporters and promote its ideology.
However, the use of social media by political parties has also raised concerns about the spread of misinformation and the manipulation of public opinion. Many have accused political parties of using social media to spread fake news and propaganda, which can have serious consequences for the country’s democracy and social fabric.
In this context, Patra’s allegations against the Congress party take on a new significance. If it is true that the Congress party is seeking help from foreign forces to manage its social media presence, it raises serious questions about the party’s commitment to Indian democracy and its willingness to manipulate public opinion using external influence.
On the other hand, if Patra’s claims are baseless and intended to discredit the Opposition, it highlights the dangers of using social media to spread misinformation and propaganda. In either case, the controversy surrounding the Congress party’s X accounts highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the use of social media by political parties in India.
As the country heads into a series of crucial elections, the role of social media in shaping public opinion and influencing the outcome of polls is likely to become even more important. It is essential that political parties, as well as social media platforms, take steps to ensure that the online discourse is fair, transparent, and free from manipulation.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding the Congress party’s X accounts highlights the complex and often murky world of social media politics in India. While Patra’s allegations against the Congress party are serious and deserve to be investigated, they also raise important questions about the use of social media by political parties and the need for greater transparency and accountability.
Source: https://x.com/ANI/status/1993959409505194134
About the Author
