New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that numerous pro-Congress accounts on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) are being operated from foreign countries, including Pakistan and Bangladesh. The party claims this is part of a coordinated effort to influence Indian political discourse, spread misinformation, and deepen internal divisions. These allegations have sparked a significant political controversy, raising questions about the authenticity of online political support and the potential for foreign interference in Indian politics.
The BJP's accusations are based on the new location feature implemented by X, which displays an account's location, username changes, and app download information to improve transparency. BJP leaders assert that a large number of pro-Congress accounts are not actually based in India but are being run from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other parts of Asia and the world. They highlight that many of these accounts have changed their usernames multiple times, suggesting an attempt to mask their true identities. Amit Malviya, head of the BJP's IT department, stated that these accounts exhibit "anti-Hindu" and "divisive caste-based" sentiments.
The BJP is demanding stricter regulation of social media platforms and increased accountability for politically active accounts. They insist that platforms ensure authentic participation in India's political discussions. The party views this alleged foreign influence as a serious threat to India's democratic processes and is calling for immediate action to address the issue.
Several accounts, including those of Diya Sharma and Yashita Nagpal, have been specifically flagged as examples of this alleged foreign-based activity. The BJP claims these handles could be part of a broader effort to influence Indian politics from across the border. Furthermore, there are reports of accounts masquerading as Indian users, featuring profile pictures of saree-clad women and bios stating "Jai Hind," while actually operating from countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and West Asia. These accounts often post opinions on sensitive topics, such as elections and historical events, using flawless Hindi to incite propaganda within the country.
However, it's important to note that the data provided by X's location feature may not always be fully accurate. VPNs, proxies, or relocations can make accounts appear based abroad, even if the users are actually located in India. This makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the extent of foreign influence on Indian social media.
In related news from October 2024, the Karnataka BJP alleged that a Facebook page in the name of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was being managed by foreign handlers. They questioned why Kharge would trust foreign handlers over his own people, suggesting a betrayal of India. However, Kharge's son, Priyank Kharge, dismissed the page as fake and stated that they had requested Facebook to take it down. He criticized the BJP for focusing on a dead Facebook page instead of addressing pressing national issues.
The current controversy highlights the increasing concerns about the use of social media to spread misinformation and influence political discourse. As social media platforms become more sophisticated, it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between authentic voices and those that are being manipulated by foreign actors. The BJP's allegations against the Congress X accounts underscore the need for greater vigilance and stricter regulation of social media platforms to protect the integrity of India's democratic processes.
