Cambridge Analytica behind Rahul's 'Gabbar Singh Tax'? Top 10 developments
Cambridge Analytica scandal, data mining, and Facebook data breach -- as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Congress political slugfest over who has links with the controversial data consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica (CA) escalates, these terms have come to replace the usual cudgels of 'scam', 'corruption' and 'anti-national' that political parties beat each other with. The BJP claims that the firm has been involved in Congress President Rahul Gandhi's social media campaign, while the Congress is asking if the government will lodge an FIR against the company and its India partner Oveleno Business Intelligence (OBI). Here are the top 10 developments in the BJP-Congress political slugfest around the Cambridge Analytica scandal and data mining: 1) Cambridge Analytica behind Rahul Gandhi's 'Gabbar Singh Tax' jibe: With both parties trading blows over who used data mining and Facebook data in elections, the BJP stepped up its attack on Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, saying that Cambridge Analytica's "footprints" were visible in the Opposition party's campaign in Gujarat. Further, the BJP suggested that Cambridge Analytica had a role in the Congress chief's use of the term "Gabbar Singh Tax".
2) 'Will BJP file FIR against Cambridge Analytica?': Congress has asked the BJP why it avail of the company's services if Cambridge Analytica was involved in stealing data. Further, the Congress asked the BJP whether it would register an FIR against Cambridge Analytica and its Indian arm Ovleno Business Intelligence (OBI). 3) Smriti Irani, BJP's ex-IT head follow Cambridge Analtytica: Congress also said that Minister of Information & Broadcasting Smriti Irani followed Cambridge Analtytica on Twitter and BJP's former IT head Arvind Gupta -- who currently runs the government's biggest portal (mygov.in) -- had described Cambridge Analtytica as a "powerful tool". 4) Take action instead of holding press conferences, Congress tells BJP: Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi had some advice for the BJP. He said that instead of holding press conferences, the ruling party should take action over its allegation that the Opposition party is indulging in data theft to influence elections in India. 5) Rahul Gandhi doing politics over dead bodies of Indians: Ravi Shankar Prasad accused Rahul Gandhi of doing politics on the dead bodies of the 39 Indians killed by ISIS in Iraq's Mosul, after the Congress chief criticised the government, alleging that it had brought up the Cambridge Analtytica issue to divert attention from the killing of 39 Indians. 6) 'Congress' silence on Cambridge Analtytica disqualifies it from running country': Ravi Shankar Prasad also questioned Rahul Gandhi's "silence" for more than five months over media reports that had claimed that the Congress had roped in Cambridge Analtytica as its 'Brahmastra (ultimate weapon)' to counter Prime Minister Narendra Narendra Modi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. 7) Congress calls Ravi Shankar Prasad 'lie minister': Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that "now a new fake agenda" is being used to stop the proceedings in Parliament. Surjewala added that instead of law minister, Prasad should be called a "lie minister". 8) 'Why did BJP use Cambridge Analtytica if it knew the firm was stealing data?': The Congress also posed several questions for the BJP, demanding answers from the ruling party. "Didn't they (BJP and Modi) take services of OBI and CA? For Mission 272+, this company was used. Didn't you know they were involved in stealing data?" Surjewala said. 9) 'Modi government a data leak government': The Congress also asked, "Is it not true that in 2010, during Bihar election, BJP and JD-U used the services of CA and OBI." Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "Isn't Modi government a data leak government? There are several instances of data leak under this government." 10) 'Modi govt trying to divert attention from Nirav Modi, Rafale deal issues': Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged that the BJP was trying to use the Cambridge Analtytica issue to divert attention from Punjab National Bank scam accused Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi's escape from India and alleged scandals, including allegations of impropriety in the acquisition of the Dassault Rafale combat jets for the Indian Air Force.
ARTICLE SOURCE- BUSINESS STANDARD.