'Pakistan, Bangladesh & US': BJP accuses Congress of using foreign-based 'X' accounts; claims bid to 'create anarchy'

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Thursday accused the Congress of relying on social-media accounts operating from outside India to influence domestic political narratives, citing new location-tracking features on platform X. BJP MP and spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that several handles linked to Congress leaders and supporters appeared to be based in countries such as the United States, Ireland, Thailand, Pakistan and Bangladesh.Patra claimed that the location indicator on X shows Congress leader Pawan Khera’s account “is based in the United States”, while the Maharashtra Congress handle “is based in Ireland… although now they have changed it to India.” He added that the Himachal Congress account “is connected via Thailand Android app.” According to him, influencers such as Prateek Sinha (“Malaysia”), Alt News (“United States”) and Caravan India (“United States”) also appeared to have foreign-based accounts.He alleged that “several such accounts of Left and Congress influencers… are based in Pakistan, Bangladesh.”Patra accused the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of attempting to incite civil war in the country, and appealing to foreign nations to intervene in the country's sovereign affairs. He called him “unfit” for politics urging for a total rejection of him. "...Rahul Gandhi goes abroad and speaks nonsense against the country. He tried his best to incite civil war in India. He went abroad and appealed to other countries that democracy had ended in India, and they must come and save us. He compares the RSS and BJP to the Muslim Brotherhood. His party says it will take to the streets and create a situation similar to that of Bangladesh and Nepal in India. He goes abroad and speaks against every constitutional organisation of India... The time has come to completely reject and sideline him. INDIA Alliance has now understood that it is not the Midas touch, but the sad touch... Whoever he touches is defeated by the sad touch... What happened in Uttar Pradesh?... What is happening in Bihar? In Karnataka, the game 'Kaun banega Mukhyamantri' is going on. Rahul Gandhi is unfit to be a politician. He is fit to inspire against India from foreign soil. There is a need to be cautious of Rahul Gandhi and Congress..."The Puri MP further said, “Rahul Gandhi not only speaks against India abroad or tries to create anarchy in the country with the help of Gen Z, but he has also delegated this task, with planning and design, to people sitting abroad. There is a division of work in the Congress, their people sitting all over the world, who are not Indian voters, are setting narratives in India.” He went on to describe the reason behind it is as three key narratives allegedly pushed through these handles, the first was “Vote Chori”, followed by attempts to suggest that “PM Modi and the security forces surrendered during Operation Sindoor,” which he claimed was amplified by “handles from Pakistan, West Asia, Bangladesh.” The third, he said, centered on “targeting the Sangh and PM Modi personally.”"... There are three major narratives set in India by these influencers on the instructions of Rahul Gandhi, Congress and the Left ecosystem. First is 'Vote Chori'. The second narrative is trying to show that PM Modi and the security forces surrendered during Operation Sindoor. Handles from Pakistan, West Asia, Bangladesh... were behind it... The third narrative is targeting the Sangh and PM Modi personally..." he said.The BJP leader also claimed these accounts were behind the campaigns like ‘vote chor gaddi chhod’, and trying to demean Indian constitutional authorites on the global stage. "There are multiple examples of misleading tweets regarding 'Vote Chori'... When Indian institutions are being given chairmanships, Congress and its ecosystem are planning such conspiracies... Everything is in the public domain... These are fake accounts made by the Left-Congress ecosystem to demean India, to come to power and make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister one way or another... These people don't really exist. These are fake names and accounts. The narrative of 'Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod' was being set in foreign countries... It is worrisome how far the Congress and its ecosystem can go..." he said. Responding to Sambit Patra, Congress spokesperson and social media head Supriya Shrinate dismissed the allegations saying X has itself accepted some glitches in the product launch, and that she too has names of BJP handles operating from outside the country. Hitting back at the saffron party she called it an attempt to divert attention from the pressing issues, which she said were - "vote-chori, astounding results in Bihar, deaths of BLO's invoved in SIR across the country, Arunachal and more." “If I were to follow their logic, I could also produce a long list of BJP accounts that appear to operate from abroad. Pawan Khera has already clarified that he uses a VPN, so why make such a fuss? The fact is, X (Twitter) itself has stated that this was a technical glitch during a product launch, and the issue will be resolved gradually…”