Synopsis
A DisinfoLab report reveals foreign interference in Indian elections, particularly highlighting the manufactured discourse surrounding the caste census, linked to Rahul Gandhi's advocacy. The study indicates that global media, particularly from France, has played a significant role in shaping narratives, raising concerns about external influences on Indian politics.Key Takeaways
- Foreign Influence: The report underlines significant foreign involvement in shaping the caste census narrative.
- Media Manipulation: An orchestrated effort by global media to influence Indian electoral discourse was identified.
- Twitter Activity: Notable spikes in tweets linked to caste census discussions suggest a coordinated effort.
- Political Ramifications: The findings have implications for ongoing political tensions between BJP and Congress.
- Future Trends: Anticipated increase in caste census discussions as elections approach.
New Delhi, Feb 20 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump recently raised concerns over the allocation of $21 million for boosting voter participation in India via USAID, hinting that it was part of a larger scheme by the previous Biden administration aimed at influencing election outcomes. This statement has ignited a renewed political conflict, with the BJP accusing the Congress of colluding with foreign entities to manipulate Indian electoral processes.
In the midst of this political discourse, a report by DisinfoLab titled ‘The Invisible Hands: Foreign Interference in Indian Elections 2024’ has gained considerable traction, intensifying the ongoing debate.
This report investigates media narratives surrounding Indian elections, especially during election periods, and posits that there has been a concerted effort by foreign organizations to sway Indian voters.
It asserts that international media, particularly from the West, has been actively involved in shaping the electoral narrative. The findings reveal that media focus often zeroed in on critical election-related matters, such as India's Election Commission and the scheduling of the Lok Sabha elections, which occurred during the sweltering summer of 2024. The report argues that the persistent critique and framing of these matters by global media seemed to carry strategic undertones.
One of the most notable revelations from the report pertains to the “caste census”, a subject that has gained momentum in recent years largely due to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's persistent advocacy.
The study indicates a marked increase in discussions about the caste census, which appears to have been artificially stimulated through foreign media outlets. The analysis also pointed out an unexpected volume of publications on caste census emerging from France, indicating significant foreign influence on the topic.
"The discourse surrounding the caste census was a manufactured narrative activated on X (formerly, Twitter) for a specific agenda, heavily promoted by French media,” the report emphasizes.
This orchestrated manipulation of discourse raises alarms, as the study identifies distinct spikes in activity on particular days, suggesting a coordinated effort to enhance the narrative at strategic times.
"There are clear (traffic) peaks on certain days, indicating that the chatter about the caste census was artificially generated. This was a significant warning sign," the report elaborates.
The study's relevance is heightened by Rahul Gandhi's continuous calls for a caste census in advance of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP has leveraged these calls to accuse Gandhi of being under the sway of foreign forces, reflecting growing apprehensions regarding external meddling in Indian politics.
A closer look at the data reveals a surge in tweets mentioning Christophe Jaffrelot, a well-known French political scientist and Indologist, in 2021, coinciding with his published works that fueled discussions on the caste census.
The report indicates that Jaffrelot's scholarship has been instrumental in shaping narratives concerning caste issues, with his perspectives frequently referenced not only by French outlets but also by Indian media. The uptick in activity on X surrounding Jaffrelot's contributions, coupled with funding from the HLF (US-based Henry Luce Foundation), continued to escalate leading up to 2024.
An examination of the tweets referencing Jaffrelot from 2016 to 2024 reveals key themes being discussed, including elections and voting, caste matters, China-India relations, religious dynamics, PM Modi, the BJP, women's issues, COVID-19, and India-Pakistan relations. Notably, there was a sudden increase in tweets addressing caste issues, particularly those related to the caste census, starting in 2021, according to the report.
“This abrupt shift towards caste discussions, particularly the caste census, is curious. Aside from the HLF funding, there seems to be no clear trigger for this heightened focus,” the report notes. This shift stands in contrast to other recurring themes like elections and COVID-19, which exhibited more predictable peaks in the lead-up to elections and the pandemic.
Further scrutiny of the seasonal fluctuations in the frequency of these subjects shows a distinct pattern: tweets about election topics peak during winter and spring, aligning with India’s election cycle. Interestingly, the peaks for caste-related tweets are nearly identical, indicating a close link between caste discourse and elections.
A heatmap derived from the data indicates that caste issues are strongly correlated with discussions around elections and critiques of PM Modi and the BJP. This suggests that conversations on caste issues often intersect with electoral debates, particularly in contexts that challenge the ruling administration, the report observes.
“As the 2024 elections draw near, the dialogue surrounding the caste census is expected to escalate, with foreign influence and constructed narratives continuing to exert an impact,” the report concluded.
