The Washington Post has shed light on what it claims to be a sophisticated campaign by the Modi government to stifle critical voices, both within and outside India.
The report alleges that the government has employed a disinformation lab based in the United States to promote Prime Minister Narendra Modi while discrediting dissenting voices.
According to The Washington Post, the disinfo lab, established in 2020 by Lt. Col. Satpathy of the Indian intelligence agency RAW, has been linking individuals and organizations critical of Modi to various Islamic or conspiracy groups.
Shocking findings expose a covert operation in #US, where a disinfo lab was allegedly created to promote #Modi and discredit critics.
— SAMAA TV (@SAMAATV) December 12, 2023
The lab links dissenting voices to #Islamic or conspiracy groups, according to the Washington Post. #SamaaTV pic.twitter.com/ROsjLe1nHd
The lab has reportedly published 28 reports so far, all of which are said to be anti-Pakistan and pro-Modi in nature.
The Post suggests that the disinfo lab's tactics include associating critics with global conspiracies against India's development under Modi.
American billionaire George Soros, who publicly criticized Modi at the Munich Security Conference, was also alleged to have ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and Pakistani intelligence agencies in the disinfo lab's reports.
The report further claims that Modi's paid journalists are utilizing these disinfo lab reports as sources on news channels and global media platforms.
Among the 250 Twitter accounts spreading these reports, The Washington Post identifies 35 Modi ministers, 14 government officials, and 61 paid Modi journalists.
The disinfo lab's activities allegedly extend to lobbying international broadcasters under the guise of a fake identity, "Shakti," with the aim of broadcasting material in favor of India and against Pakistan and China.
Critics have drawn parallels between these actions and the Cold War-era tactics of the KGB.
Recent events, according to The Washington Post, indicate a growing intolerance for criticism by the Modi government, both domestically and internationally.
The global media has previously exposed social media operations by the Modi government and the BJP, with accusations of creating WhatsApp and Facebook groups to fuel Islamophobia.
The article also references Elon Musk's claim that the Modi government pressured Twitter to remove anti-Modi tweets in January 2023, the raid on BBC offices in February 2023 for airing an anti-Modi documentary, and the suspension of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's parliamentary membership in March for criticizing Modi.
These allegations, if proven true, raise concerns about the erosion of free speech and the use of covert tactics by the Modi government to shape narratives both at home and abroad.
The Washington Post's report adds to the ongoing discourse surrounding the balance between government power and democratic values in India.
