Cong seeks probe into Israeli firm’s ‘use’ in Indian polls

NEW DELHI, FEB 16

(PTI): The Congress on Thursday demanded a probe into the the alleged use of an Israeli team of contractors to interfere in Indian elections and asked the government to break its silence on the matter.

The data of Indians is being compromised by handing it over to a foreign firm,” the Congress’s social media department head alleged.

Khera alleged that India’s democracy is being “hijacked” by the country’s ruling party.

Pawan Khera Sitaram Yechury.

this appointment is being widely seen as a quid pro quo,” the editorial stated.

It further said that the BJP-led central government has a “dubious record” of appointing Justice P Sathasivam as governor of Kerala in 2014 – the first instance of a retired chief justice of India becoming a governor.

“This step had drawn widespread criticism from retired judges and jurists who saw in this move a threat to judicial independence. Four of the other appointees belong to the RSS-BJP pedigree. They are mostly second-rank leaders of the BJP, whose only qualification presumably is their loyalty to the ruling party

“For Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, the choice of governors is from a pool of loyal party functionaries, RSS swayamsewaks and pliable retired bureaucrats and generals. The governors appointed to the non-BJP ruled states in the past few years have shown them to be agents of the ruling party, or, worse political henchmen,” it said. The editorial alleged that these governors have “trampled” upon constitutional norms and arrogated to themselves the task of supervising and interfering in matters which concern the elected state governments. “All the non-BJP-run state governments must come together to demand an end to the unconstitutional acts of the governors which are encouraged and abetted by the central government.

At a press conference here, Congress spokespersons Pawan Khera and Supriya Shrinate drew similarities between “Team Jorge”, the Israeli team of contractors, and the IT cell of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in spreading misinformation and “fake news” in order to influence the country’s electoral process.

They also alleged that the data of Indians is being compromised.

“Team Jorge”, which is feared to have interfered with more than 30 elections around the world, has been linked with a software to operate fake social media campaigns across countries, including India, a report said on Wednesday. “We have seen a pattern in India. We want the government to break its silence and say what has been its contribution in saving democracy in the country,” Shrinate said, asserting that it is the Centre’s job to give a reply when an international agency has made out such a serious allegation.

“This impacts India’s electoral process directly and there should be a probe,” she said.

“If the government is not doing anything on this, it means it is seeking help to interfere in the country’s democracy and elections.

Shrinate said this is not the first time that allegations of data theft have been levelled against the Narendra Modi government.

“One of the serious charges that this government faces is data theft and data manipulation to actually tamper with the electoral process. You saw what happened in Karnataka. This government is known to play with big data to its advantage. This is nothing but a murder of democracy,” she alleged.

Shrinate also accused the BJP’s IT cell of often indulging in such activities by “militarising or weaponising” rumours by spreading those further and said this is leading to bad results in the society and hence, questions will be asked.

“An Israeli agency’s help is being taken to influence the country’s democracy. Sitting in India, they are conspiring against India’s democracy along with other countries,” he said.

Khera also wondered if the BJP used a network of foreign hackers to interfere in Indian elections and recalled that there were allegations of using Cambridge Analytica (CA) and then Pegasus by the Modi government to meddle in the country’s political system by spreading misinformation on digital media.

“Is there a link between Post Card News and Team Jorge -- a team of Israeli contractors who claim to have manipulated more than 30 elections around the world using hacking, sabotage and automated disinformation on social media?” he asked.

Disabling ability

Like other states, Nagaland has its own social and other problems and when these have not been addressed, they seriously complicate the environment to the extent that today, no one in Nagaland really feels confident enough to say that the future is bright; even though there may be optimists who like to see a ray of light at the other end of the tunnel. Indeed, issues that are political in nature have gotten wedged into society’s growing problems and creating a negative synergy. There are many unaddressed issues that have caused the present socio-politicaleconomic morass. However, amidst the uncertainty the only certainty has been the inequitable distribution of wealth to a few but growing tribe of nouveau riche among the politicians and bureaucrats, through “get rich schemes”. Social problems continue to mount as society is plagued by extortion, joblessness, rising lawlessness, poverty and HIV etc. Unemployment and anti-social crimes are ascending while morality is descending. It is true that many thinkers have lamented over the situation by asking ‘how long can this go on?’ or in other words, how long should people live under these circumstances? The answer appears to still be forthcoming even as the state gears up for choosing the people who are supposed to represent them. The time for a free and frank examination has passed decades ago in order to understand the where’s and whys of how an ideal has metamorphosed into something what it is today. Who can deny that corruption whether by politicians or bureaucrats under whatever nexus under the sky, is as rampant as the fact that in the end, silence or inaction is the response ? Who can also deny that despite all such talks, everyone has a vested interest to profit out of crimes?

It would be uncomfortable for all(except perhaps the few insignificant number) if truth were to expose the true colours as light exposes the darkness. For the overwhelming majority of low income groups, prices of essential items continue to rise,making it difficult for them to make both ends meet. The worst lot are those without any regular or stable source of income. This is the ground reality and which has virtually closed all options for economic growth. Even those carrying on business are faced with many problemsno power and no rule of law. Ultimately the cost of the problems are left to be borne by the ignored and ignorant public. To society’s peril are the cacophony of those who seem to reserve the prerogative and space to speak what is scripted and drown the voices of reason. If those in authority claim that peace and development have arrived today, then it is a strange way of explaining various actions that have created deep concern among the ordinary public. Society is suffering in silence and the environment exudes a fissiparous uncertainty that could prove disastrous in the near future. Unity in truth, the first strand of Naga awareness, is being removed and replaced with hegemony. These are just a few of the uncharitable facts that seem to indicate, that society in general and the government in particular, have lost a sense of direction and a responsibility to steer the course towards a vibrant society with a moral authority. The symptoms are deeply concerning and treatment can only happen if people change to bring about the change.