Indian politicians have taken social media to its greatest height during the coming 16th Lok Sabha elections. A politician’s strength and mass following is reflected on his/her social media management.
Not allowing letting go any chance of belittling their opponents appears to be the main agenda running on the social websites, which rather should be used as a platform to connect to the masses from whom they seek the votes.
- This is the image/banner which went viral and now been deleted after denial by WikiLeaks
The latest in the row is the apparently false claim by the Bharitya Janata Party (BJP).
A tweet from the operation in-charge for the mission 272+ campaign, says that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has stated that the US fears Modi since he is incorruptible.
The tweet has received more than 90 RT so far, with BJP backtracking its claim after it was made clear by Assange that he made no such statements.
The official tweet from the Wikileaks categorically denied calling Modi incorruptible. It relayed a twitter message that read,
- Narendra Modi’s BJP has been pushing this fake # Modi endorsement…but Assange has never said anything about Modi.”
#India: No WikiLeaks document say #Modi is 'incorruptable', rather he is popular because 'viewed' as 'incorruptable' https://t.co/leCkQ8PNSK
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) March 16, 2014
The clarification was given in response to the leaked cables sent by the then Mumbai Consular General, Michael S Owen about a meeting with the Modi in 2006.
The Narenda #Modi "incorruptable" quote comes from Rajkot Congress party leader Manoharsinh Jadej: https://t.co/leCkQ8PNSK #bjp #india
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) March 16, 2014
India Today reported that during the interview Modi showcased his achievements as an astute politician, businessman and a good governor but was visibly annoyed when questioned about 2002 Gujarat riots.
#India: How #Modi supporters aggressively pushed fake #Assange endorsement (scroll down to last week and beyond) https://t.co/VtS2vWyEGf
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) March 16, 2014
However, the same cable also reports a congress leader from Rajkot, Manoharsinh Jadeja, saying,
“Modi’s accomplishments are undeniable,” Modi is extremely popular and even Muslims are now supporting him to some extent because he is viewed as someone who is incompletely incorruptible and can deliver goods.
#India: How #Modi supporters aggressively pushed fake #Assange endorsement (scroll down to last week and beyond) https://t.co/VtS2vWyEGf
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) March 16, 2014
When the cables were leaked, Modi expressed happiness at being called incorruptible and released a statement on his website that read, I am glad America admits that Modi is incorruptible.
Modi was denied a visa by the US in 2005 for his alleged role in not able to control the 2002 riots.
Narendra Modi is the BJP’s prime-ministerial candidate in the coming 2014 elections and is emerging as the strongest contender.
Whether this was a case of misconstrued statement leaked in the cable or a political vendetta will become clear in the coming days.
The politicians definitely need to rise above personal diatribe to project a transparent picture to the voters.
