PTI

New Delhi, March 14

The Congress on Monday cited a media report, which claimed {that a} Reliance-funded agency boosted BJP’s campaigns on Facebook, to allege that “murder of democracy” was going down with the ruling celebration being promoted by way of “divisive proxy ads” throughout elections.

CPM common secretary Sitaram Yechury described it as a “brazen destruction of the foundations of our democracy”.

Tagging the report, he stated that is vitiating the knowledge house to unfold hate and disinformation.

“The EC (Election Commission) must take cognisance as an MNC and a mega corporate-favourite are colluding to distort Indian democracy,” he stated.

The assault by Opposition leaders came visiting an Al Jazeera report which claimed that loopholes allowed India’s largest conglomerate to pump in tens of millions of rupees to position and promote surrogate ads to spice up the attain and recognition of the BJP within the lead as much as the 2019 parliamentary elections and 9 state elections.

The agency in query is a subsidiary of Jio Platforms Ltd, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Group, based on the report.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge stated Reliance should clarify why they’ve been funding the pretend information by way of BJP’s propaganda web page on Facebook.

“The deep lies funded by Reliance not only targeted @INCIndia & @RahulGandhi but also were intended to create communal disharmony in India!” he stated.

The Congress, on its official Twitter, deal with stated the misuse of social media to assault the democratic material of our nation is just not new and that is BJP’s modus operandi.

“Hate, deception & distraction are BJP’s strongest weapons,” the celebration stated.

Attacking Facebook, the Congress requested can a world agency enable its platform to unfold hate and misinformation.

“Especially when this hate & misinformation is to manipulate a democracy? Why is Facebook prioritising the propaganda on one party?” the celebration stated.

“Untruthfully defaming the Opposition is the only way BJP can hide its incompetence & retain power. A very costly consequence for the nation,” the Congress stated in one other tweet.

Congress chief and spokesperson Supriya Srinate tagged the media report on Twitter and stated, “Rel Jio funded co- led byBJP leader’s kin pumped money into FB to promote BJP malign @RahulGandhi through fake news. FB removed 687 pages that promoted @INCIndia only 1 of BJP Why is India’s richest man murdering democracy?”

Youth Congress chief Srinivas B V cited the report and stated Facebook allowed a Reliance Jio-funded agency headed by a BJP chief’s nephew to advertise India’s ruling celebration BJP by way of divisive proxy advertisements throughout elections.

All are hand-in-glove on this commerce of hatred, he added.

Social media in-charge Rohan Gupta additionally attacked the BJP and tweeted, “Deception. Defamation. Devastation. The ‘hum do humare do’ can stoop to unimaginable lows to satiate their greed. Greed for power & money.”

Congress’ whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore stated the Ambani funded firm led by BJP chief’s son pumped lakhs of cash into Facebook to advertise BJP malign Rahul Gandhi by way of pretend information.

“FB removed 687 pages that promoted congress only 1 of BJP, Asia’s richest man hand full of blood in the murder of democracy,” he tweeted.

Chhattisgarh minister T S Singhdeo additionally shared the media report on Twitter and stated it was a should learn article, on how essentially necessary democratic processes have been being “tampered” with by creating loopholes in favour of the BJP.

“That too under the watch of Constitutional authorities like the Election Commission of India,” he added.

In a tweet, Congress chief Salman Soz stated, “When Reliance funds a company that promotes BJP through divisive ads on Facebook, you get a sense of the odds against Congress & opposition.”

“This entire nexus needs to be dismantled because it threatens Indian democracy. Only sustained political pressure will overcome this nexus,” he stated.