Dominance of BJP IT Cell

 

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Dominance of BJP IT Cell

In recent years, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Information Technology (IT) Cell has built an unparalleled digital machinery that reaches millions of Indians daily. At its core are roughly 5,500–6,000 full-time operatives under National Convener Amit Malviya, supported by an estimated 150,000 contract “social-media workers” disseminating content across platforms Wikipedia. Ahead of the 2020 Bihar polls alone, the party appointed 9,500 IT-Cell heads at every shakti kendra (local office) and spun up 72,000 WhatsApp groups to push curated political messaging to booth-level workers and voters ThePrint. This vast network empowers hyper-targeted, 24×7 narrative management — often blurring the line between legitimate outreach and coordinated misinformation.

The Architecture of the BJP IT Cell

Organizational Scale and Structure

• Core Team: According to public records, the BJP IT Cell employs about 5,500–6,000 staffers nationwide, led by Amit Malviya since 2015 Wikipedia.
• Grassroots Cadre: Beyond the core, some 150,000 part-time social-media operatives are mobilized to forward messages, manage groups, and engage in online debates on demand X (formerly Twitter).
• State-Level Deployment: In Bihar, for instance, each of the state’s 9,500 shakti kendras had its own IT-Cell head, overseeing six to seven booths apiece, ensuring hyper-local coverage ThePrint.

Digital Infrastructure and Reach

• Multi-Platform Pipeline: The Cell coordinates content dissemination via WhatsApp, Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, and the party-owned NaMo TV channel, leveraging platform APIs and “shadow advertisers” for paid reach ThePrint.
• Historical Continuity: BJP’s tech-driven outreach predates Modi’s prime ministry — Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s 2004 pre-recorded phone messages, the 2014 “3D vans,” and the 2019 “missed-call” campaign underscore a long-standing strategy to pioneer political tech ThePrint.

Motives Behind the Dominance

Electoral Gains and Vote Mobilization

• Mindshare Capture: As one former UP-BJP IT volunteer put it, “Our aim was to capture the mind of the voter… Whenever they look, they should see us, hear our message” Wikipedia.
• Women’s Outreach War Room: In 2024, a clandestine “war room” led by data-analytics teams targeted 12.5 million female voters through WhatsApp, call centers, and the SARAL app — showing how finely segmented BJP’s voter-contact operations have become WIRED.

Narrative Control and Political Messaging

• First-Mover Advantage: Modi’s X (formerly Twitter) account launched in 2009, six years before his chief rival followed suit — an early sign of BJP’s eagerness to own the digital narrative Wikipedia.
• Content Monetization: The Cell has even persuaded platforms to “monetize” friendly pages, enabling pro-BJP news outlets to earn ad revenue and thereby sustain volume-intensive content production The Indian Express.

Tactics and Use of Misinformation

WhatsApp Campaigns and Viral Content

• Booth-Level Distribution: The 72,000 WhatsApp groups in Bihar alone function as mini newsrooms, pushing videos, text, and audio clips directly to voters’ pockets — unstoppable unless users opt out manually ThePrint.
• Fact-Check Debunkings: AltNews identified 16 separate misinformation narratives spun by Amit Malviya’s account, from fake “terrorist scooter rides” allegations to doctored protest footage Scroll.in.

Social Media Amplification and Shadow Advertisers

• Deepfakes: The Reuters Institute flagged a surge of AI-generated videos in India’s 2024 polls — featuring bogus speeches and endorsements — often traced back to pro-BJP networks seeking viral reach Reuters Institute.
• Paid Promotions: Time Magazine’s investigation uncovered “shadow advertisers” running covert pro-Modi ads on Instagram and X, circumventing transparency rules to micro-target swing demographics Time.
• Industrial-Scale Misinformation: Freedom House called India’s elections “plagued” by politically orchestrated disinformation, with the BJP’s machine producing “inflammatory, often false, and bigoted material” on an industrial scale Freedom House.

Case Studies: Notable Misinformation Episodes

• Farmers’ Protest Manipulation: In December 2020, Twitter tagged an IT Cell post by Malviya as “manipulated media” after it misrepresented a farmers’ protest incident — marking unprecedented platform pushback Wikipedia.
• False Voting Instructions: DFRLab documented viral WhatsApp messages guiding voters to “vote early” or “avoid certain booths,” undermining polling integrity ﹘ many aligned with BJP geographies DFRLab.
• Doctored Videos of Rahul Gandhi: Dozens of short clips were edited to make the opposition leader appear to contradict himself; AltNews and Scroll.in produced detailed debunks Alt NewsScroll.in.

Impact on Indian Democracy

Polarization and Public Discourse

• Hate-Factory Accusations: The Washington Post reports that BJP-linked groups have “perfected” spreading bigoted material, fueling communal divides and eroding social cohesion The Washington Post.
• Platform Incentives: India Today noted that social-media algorithms prioritize anger-driven content — a dynamic the BJP exploits by feeding polarizing narratives into high-velocity networks India Today.

Regulatory and Legal Challenges

• Press-Freedom Risks: Amnesty International warned that India’s recent IT-Rules amendments enable quick takedowns of “undesirable” content, chilling critical journalism even as the BJP’s own networks proliferate unchecked Amnesty International.
• Enforcement Gaps: Despite Election Commission advisories, digital campaigning often outpaces rule-making, leaving loopholes for cross-border funding, opaque ad buys, and untraceable message forwarding.

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While digital campaigning is here to stay, the BJP’s IT Cell stands out for scale, sophistication, and strategic misinformation — posing urgent questions for India’s democratic resilience, media literacy initiatives, and regulatory frameworks. Vigilant fact-checking, platform accountability, and civic education will be crucial to ensure that tech-enabled politics serves transparency rather than tribalism.

Understanding Liberalism and Secularism: Why They Matter for India's Future

 In recent years, social media platforms in India have seen a surge in right-wing voices, many of whom proudly label themselves as “ex-secular” or reject liberalism outright. These terms—liberalism and secularism—are often thrown around as buzzwords, vilified without a clear understanding of what they actually mean. For some, they’ve become synonymous with weakness, appeasement, or a betrayal of Indian values. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Liberalism and secularism are not just abstract ideals; they are foundational principles that have shaped India’s diverse, vibrant democracy and remain essential for its unity and progress.

This post is for those who’ve dismissed these ideas without fully grasping them—yes, even the self-proclaimed “andhbhakts” (blind devotees) who might scoff at the mention of these terms. Let’s unpack what liberalism and secularism really mean and why every Indian, regardless of political leanings, should embrace them.

What is Liberalism?

Liberalism, at its core, is about freedom and fairness. It’s the belief that every individual deserves the right to live their life as they see fit, as long as they’re not harming others. This includes freedom of speech, religion, thought, and the pursuit of happiness. Liberalism champions equality under the law, ensuring that no one is discriminated against based on their caste, creed, gender, or background.

In the Indian context, liberalism is woven into the fabric of our Constitution. The right to free speech (Article 19), the prohibition of discrimination (Article 15), and the protection of minority rights are all liberal principles. These ideas ensure that a Dalit woman in a village has the same legal protections as an urban elite, that a Muslim or Christian can practice their faith freely, and that dissenting voices—whether on social media or in parliament—aren’t silenced.

But liberalism isn’t just about individual rights; it’s about creating a society where diverse ideas coexist. It encourages debate, not dogma. It asks us to question authority, whether it’s the government, religious leaders, or even social media influencers. A liberal India is one where you can criticize the ruling party without fear, where traditions can be questioned without being labeled “anti-national,” and where progress isn’t stifled by blind allegiance to the past.

What is Secularism?

Secularism is often misunderstood in India, especially by those who equate it with “sickularism” or minority appeasement. This is a gross distortion. Secularism, in its simplest form, means that the state and its institutions remain neutral in matters of religion. It doesn’t mean rejecting religion or favoring one group over another; it means ensuring that no religion dominates public policy or law.

India’s brand of secularism is unique. Unlike some Western models that advocate a strict separation of religion and state, Indian secularism embraces pluralism. It respects all faiths equally, allowing them to flourish without giving any one religion preferential treatment. This is why the Constitution guarantees the right to practice and propagate religion (Article 25) while prohibiting the state from discriminating on religious grounds.

Think about it: India is home to Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and countless other communities. Without secularism, how could such a diverse nation function? Secularism is the glue that holds India together, ensuring that no group feels marginalized or oppressed because of their beliefs. It’s why a Hindu-majority country can have festivals like Eid and Christmas celebrated with equal fervor, why temples and mosques coexist, and why our laws don’t favor one community over another.

The Misconceptions and the “Ex-Secular” Trend

So why do so many social media handles proudly declare themselves “ex-secular” or rail against liberalism? Often, it stems from frustration with perceived hypocrisy. Some argue that secularism has been misused to pander to minorities while ignoring the majority’s sentiments. Others see liberalism as a Western import that dilutes Indian culture or enables “woke” agendas.

These frustrations are worth addressing, but rejecting liberalism and secularism entirely is like throwing out the Constitution because of a few bad politicians. The problem isn’t the principles themselves but their misapplication. For example, if certain policies have unfairly favored one group, the solution isn’t to abandon secularism but to demand true neutrality. If liberalism has been co-opted by elites who seem out of touch, the answer is to reclaim it for the common Indian, not discard it.

Many who call themselves “ex-secular” may not realize that the very freedoms they enjoy—posting fiery opinions on X, practicing their faith, or criticizing the government—are rooted in liberal and secular values. Without these principles, India risks sliding into a majoritarian state where only the loudest or most powerful voices prevail.

Why Every Indian Should Be Liberal and Secular

India’s strength lies in its diversity, but diversity can also be its Achilles’ heel if not managed with care. Liberalism and secularism are the tools that make this diversity a strength rather than a source of conflict. Here’s why every Indian, including those skeptical of these ideas, should embrace them:

1. They Protect Everyone’s Rights: Liberalism ensures that your voice, no matter how small, matters. Secularism guarantees that your faith, whether majority or minority, is respected. These principles are your shield against oppression, whether from the state or a mob.
2. They Foster Unity: In a country with thousands of languages, cultures, and religions, secularism is the only way to prevent division. By keeping religion out of governance, we focus on what unites us—our shared identity as Indians.
3. They Drive Progress: Liberalism encourages questioning outdated practices, from caste discrimination to gender inequality. It’s why India abolished sati and embraced universal suffrage. Without liberal values, we’d still be stuck in the 18th century.
4. They Reflect Indian Values: Far from being Western imports, liberalism and secularism echo India’s ancient ethos. The Rigveda’s “Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti” (truth is one, but the wise call it by many names) embodies secular pluralism. Ashoka’s edicts promoting tolerance and debate are quintessentially liberal.
5. They Ensure a Strong Democracy: A democracy thrives when all voices are heard and no group is favored. Liberalism and secularism prevent India from becoming a theocracy or an authoritarian state, preserving the freedom to choose our leaders and shape our future.

A Call to Rethink

To those who’ve embraced the “ex-secular” label or dismissed liberalism as “pseudo-intellectual nonsense,” I urge you to pause and reflect. These aren’t elite concepts; they’re the bedrock of the India you love. The next time you post on X, celebrate a festival, or vote in an election, remember that liberalism and secularism made those moments possible.

Being liberal doesn’t mean abandoning tradition or patriotism. Being secular doesn’t mean rejecting your faith. It means building an India where every citizen, from a Kashmiri Pandit to a Tamil Muslim, can thrive without fear. It means trusting in the idea that our differences make us stronger, not weaker.

Let’s move beyond divisive labels and half-baked narratives. India’s future depends on its ability to stay true to the principles that have held it together for over seven decades. Be proud to be liberal. Be proud to be secular. Be proud to be Indian.