A Twitter thread exposes the nefarious narrative of media

With general elections round the corner, the political parties have begun their preparations. As far as the mainstream media houses are concerned, they kicked off their campaigns for their respective political masters since 2014 only. These houses played important roles in creating the narrative in favour of or against any political party. Before the advent of social media, the mainstream media had the sole monopoly over creating the narrative and shaping public opinion ahead of elections. However, things began to change when social media became a popular medium of information exchange among people. Now, mainstream media houses no longer exercise full control over the flow of information, and also the information or news given by them no longer is considered sacrosanct. Netizens are quick to verify and question the claims of media. Many a time, they go to the extent of exposing the fake news and the propaganda peddled by the mainstream media houses.

So, overall because of social media, the flow of information has got more democratised which is good for democracy. It would further deepen and strengthen the roots of democracy in the nation. As the election season approaches near, media is set to push torrent of fake news and create an issue out of thin air. In such a scenario, role of social media would become very important to expose the bias and intellectual bankruptcy of media and to make citizens more aware and informed.

Since yesterday, a Twitter thread, highlighting how false narratives were created by Congress ecosystem against Vajpayee during his regime end and how congress ecosystem is repeating the same again ahead of 2019 general elections, has gone viral.

Twitter user who goes by the name- Saiganesh- begins this thread by highlighting the similarity between narrative of fake “Kargil coffin scam” and the ongoing attempt of opposition to project Rafale deal as a scam. The Congress milked lot of electoral benefit from the narrative of fake coffin scam and ahead of 2019 general elections, they are trying to employ their tried and tested formula again.

Since yesterday, a Twitter thread, highlighting how false narratives were created by Congress ecosystem against Vajpayee during his regime end and how the current Congress ecosystem is repeating the same again ahead of 2019 general elections, has gone viral.

Twitter user who goes by the name- Saiganesh- begins this thread by highlighting the similarity between narrative of fake “Kargil coffin scam” and the ongoing attempt of opposition to project Rafale deal as a scam. The Congress milked lot of electoral benefit from the narrative of fake coffin scam and ahead of 2019 general elections, they are trying to employ their tried and tested formula again.

In 2015, the apex court absolved everyone in Kargil coffin scam but it was too late. The Congress had managed to get what it wanted- Power. This is enough to show the power of narratives and power of propaganda. 

The bias of left dominated media against a so-called right-wing government is clearly evident in the following cartoon.

Calling ambitious golden quadrilateral project as “The Great Highway Robbery” shows incipient hatred of leftist media against the BJP.

Creating fictional scams and scandals out of thin air to malign the image of the Vajpayee government used to be a ritual.

People with no credibility used to raise question on the credibility of Vajpayee government. Same thing is happening at a time when the Modi government is in power at the center.

Leftist media termed big development projects as disaster.

Foreign media also abetted national media in their pursuit to throw a non-Congress government out of power.

History is repeating itself again.

This time senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram is into the business of leveling baseless allegations against the incumbent Modi government.

‘Digital pamphlets’ of Congress ecosystem is also helping to peddle the torrent of fake news and to discredit the development works done by Modi government by publishing garbage pieces which is found only among the BJP and Hindu haters only.

They are employing the same template against the Modi government which they used against the Vajpayee government in 2004.

This thread is the best example of ‘good and effective’ use of social media. In the upcoming general elections, it is going to play a huge role in exposing the lies of mainstream media. In 2004, social media had no relevance in elections but now, before winning the ground battle one needs to win the battle of narrative on internet. People are now consuming more and more information through internet as compared to any other medium of information. As Thomas Sowell said, “If people in the media cannot decide whether they are in the business of reporting news or manufacturing propaganda, it is all the more important that the public understand that difference, and choose their news sources accordingly.” The 2019 general elections are going to be a battle between flag bearer of truth and development in the form of the BJP, and the malicious propaganda unleashed by the Congress ecosystem, and the result of this battle will be different than 2004 elections as the social media is the new entrant in the battle.