Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan, a collective of right outfits, have cited a research report of Tech Justice Law Project to accuse the BJP of spreading hatred during Jharkhand elections through shadow accounts on social media.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan has cited Tuesday’s report of Tech Justice Law Project, prepared in association with Indian American Muslim Council, Indian Civil Watch International, Hindus for Human Rights and Dalit Solidarity Forum.
Citing the report, the statement read: “The report once again exposed the BJP’s hateful agenda and the election commission’s bias. The report based on the assessment of transparency data available on Facebook, has revealed two things, the BJP is secretly spending crores of rupees to spread communalism and dehumanising Adivasi chief minister (Hemant Soren) on social media and BJP is doing this by creating many shadow pages and accounts.”
Shadow accounts are those which promote and work for a particular political party but are not declared by the same.
It claimed: “The research has identified 90 such shadow accounts, the main ones among which are ‘Jharkhand Choupal’ and other ‘Choupal’ accounts associated with it.”
“Four main types of ads were identified – first, that portray Muslims as the enemy; second, which promote communal divide; third, where the Adivasi chief minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren is portrayed as a beast with horns on his head; and fourth, with conspiracy theories about ‘infiltrators’.”
“The study also states that the mobile numbers, websites, and address provided on the pages were fake and didn’t exist.”
“The Supreme Court’s order says that the code of conduct and election rules apply to social media as well. But it seems that the Election Commission has given BJP a free reign to use shadow pages to spread communal hatred and polarize voters on religious grounds.”
“Despite numerous complaints made to the Chief Electoral Officer against this serious violation of the code of conduct, no action has been taken from his side. It seems that the Election Commission is working like BJP’s party office,” the statement alleged.
