The Congress’ pointed and relentless attack on the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party over its alleged collusion with Facebook makes for good headlines, but it also shows how the directionless party is barking up the wrong tree yet again.
It is precisely because of its inability to spot the problem and tendency to waste time finding peripheral reasons to blame the BJP that things have come to such a pass for the Congress. The futile drama that unfolded Monday at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, with Sonia Gandhi quitting and then staying on, is proof of the party’s floundering in the face of the Modi storm.
The Congress has developed an unenviable knack of attributing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rise and electoral wins to all kinds of misplaced excuses — from hack-able Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to the BJP’s deep pockets, the timing of the Balakot strikes to a fake propaganda machinery. And now in the latest, Rahul Gandhi has reportedly termed the letter written by party leaders against Sonia Gandhi as “ill-timed”, suggesting it could have “helped the BJP”. Facebook is yet another addition to this long, and often, myopic list.
A news report in The Wall Street Journal about Facebook’s alleged bias in controlling hate speech by BJP leaders on its platform has propelled the sleepy Congress into action. The party has accused the social media site of being controlled by the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which Rahul Gandhi alleged use it to “influence” the Indian voters.
But the fact is, Modi wins because of Modi. Period. One doesn’t have to be a fan of his brand of politics, his self-aggrandisement, narcissistic tendencies, Hindutva hate spewing or his party’s toxic majoritarian agenda. You may even find it deeply disconcerting. But there is no running away from the fact that Modi’s popularity at the national level is almost unprecedented. His victories are because the voter wants to see him win, not because the EVM is acting up or a social media platform has favoured him. What acts as a multiplier effect is how the BJP gets its arithmetic and on-ground strategy right.
Nobody has been able to crack the code to beat him. And the last thing that is likely to work is the Congress’ misguided reasons for his wins.
Also read: Former civil servants ask Facebook to audit hate speech policy without Ankhi Das’ ‘influence’
The many excuses
There can be little denying that the allegations against Facebook, if true, are appalling. Social media platforms are supposed to be spaces for free speech, and a neutral venue. Of course, there’s a lot of toxicity nowadays. There is also little denying that hate speech has no place in a civilised society and no platform — social media or otherwise — should tolerate it.
But the problem is that with this fresh ‘revelation’ in The WSJ, the Congress will find yet another reason to justify its electoral drubbings and the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah duo’s rise. The party will not look within, will not acknowledge that the internal crisis has led to its downfall. Its failure to reimagine its politics and connect with the masses, and to give itself a credible sheen, have been its nemesis — not EVMs or Facebook.
It is insulting the voter’s intelligence to reduce her political preference to a social media message. Facebook may well have favoured the BJP, turning a blind eye to all the venom spewing its leaders engage in. But the Congress is once again losing sight of what really makes the PM win, which only makes defeating him out of the realm of possibility.
Look at the pattern so far. The Congress took a leaf out of the BJP’s book when it started crying hoarse over EVM tampering. Every election it lost, and the BJP won, the party attributed it to the EVMs being hacked. The elections it won, the Congress went deafeningly silent on the EVM claim.
This has essentially meant that instead of introspecting and self-reflecting, and thus, course correcting, the Congress has found an easy way out to tell itself that it was defeated not because it didn’t deserve to win, but because its rival ‘cheated’.
More recently, take the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The Congress wanted to believe that the time of the Balakot air strikes, along with Hindutva hate, were reasons for Modi’s massive win — if not publicly, then in private conversations. It is not as if the Congress would have won the election in the absence of the cross-border strikes. Balakot was just a propeller, not the core.
And then there is the more general claim about how Modi’s sweet talk and the BJP’s false propaganda are getting the better of the Congress.
But hyper nationalism, lies and Hindutva rants can only take you so far. It is foolhardy to believe they are enough to help Modi-Shah win election after election, and conquer even unexpected battlegrounds like Left fortress Tripura.
Also read: What we don’t know about the crisis in the Congress
Facing the truth
By ascribing a multitude of convenient reasons to Modi’s electoral winnability instead of acknowledging and understanding why the voter loves him, for better or for the worse, the Congress is constantly ruining its chances of actually making a comeback.
But more importantly, the Congress will refuse to accept that Narendra Modi is a genuinely popular leader who enjoys massive goodwill among the electorate. His wins have been because of the heady cocktail he has put together — of his own personality cult, his framework of welfare, pro-rural policies, smart ground strategy during elections, making the most of the BJP/RSS cadre network, and, of course, garnishing it with a generous dose of nationalism and religion.
The more the Congress attacks Modi by questioning the genuineness of his popularity and attributing it to external factors, the more the voter feels motivated to prove this wrong and the stronger the PM becomes.
The Congress needs to wake up from its deep stupor, more so now when the party seems to be all but imploding, and face the bitter truth. It has failed because it got its politics wrong and Modi has succeeded because he got it right. No amount of EVM or Facebook bashing can change this.
Views are personal.
Ruhi Tewari and Shekar Gupta are balancing so hard that if they tried anymore, they’d be able to join the circus. Atleast be real with yourselves- Modi has won because the media and now as we have learnt social media spaces have been completely captured. Not a soul for example in the media has spoken about the drubbing we have received from Chinese occupation. This is the harsh reality. Rahul may be ineffectual and I give Modi points for being proactive but Ruhi and Shekhar should hang their heads in shame at their lack of courage in calling out the media bias which keeps painting Modi as a perfect angel. This is the biggest Facebook story in years. But keep on doing your balancing act in fear!!
People of this country have moved on and moved ahead. Congress’s tactics are outdated and relies heavily on falsehood campaigns. Congress has to wake up and smell the fresh coffee. You can’t run a party with sycophants and the past glory of pre and post independence (which is being questioned). You need meritorious people to run a party like Congress and take the messages to grassroots.
I don’t understand the author’s use of the word ‘toxic’.
Modi is simply fulfilling the promises his party made in their manifesto. Why is that ‘toxic’ ‘majoritarian’ or anything else?
For 12 years – read it again – 12 years; the Congress and all other parties went after him – trying to kill him off literally or through their media. Yet he survived and has now thrived due to the people.
Poor, biased, unimaginative writing
Yes do agree to an extent. Congress and the opposition as a whole has failed in taking people into confidence in opposing the govt. But there is no denying the fact that the current regime is thriving purely on divisive yet the most popular and safe strategy based on religion caste and hate backed by tremendous support from the richest like Ambani’s and Adani who has greater faith on Modi and Shah( not the BJP) than Congress. Whether someone calls this a generalisation or not but this is at the core of Modi’s thriving popularity. Opposition has to hit where it hurts the most.
Balakot did make a difference. And there’s a reason Modi & Co are super-harsh on neutral media, stopping ads and getting editors fired – media is a big part of their strategy. Or let’s say misinformation peddled by various media has played a major role in Modi’s victories! To that end, FB picking sides is definitely a game changer. The reason for Modi’s popularity during the Corona and China crises can be attributed to subservient media. Modi says China didn’t encroach.. and the people believe it, because the media does not really question it. Most Modi supporters are brought up on fake news.
That said, Modi’s biggest ally is the Congress party. That the letter has not spurred any concrete action is shocking. Consensus is important, but not at the cost of action. It’s already late to start preparing for 2024, which may just be the last nail in the Congress coffin!!
Like we care.
Easiest of hunting expeditions is, hunting the escape goat.
Hundreds of millions who vote for modi do not have access to internet, what to talk of Facebook.
It is pathetic to blame Face book for Modi’s victories. Namo is most Secular person better than MKG.
A political party centred around one family can’t introspect. It is as simple as that. If it does introspect and finds the family at fault can it do anything about it? It can’t. Every Congress person knows that and therefore the party cannot introspect.
The term “Toxic Majoritarianism” is used for agenda of BJP. Does that everyone should vote for parties that practice”Sweet Minoritarianism”.
Democracy is based on the party winning majority votes getting to rule. If majoritarianism is toxic, then that is like saying “its my way or the highway”
Very dangerous agenda for the country if you do not want the majority to win and have a say.
Poohi is a CONGRASS journalist. Her toxic ranting is a way of her expressing anger towards the FAMILY she wants in power but IS unable to deliver on her hopes.
But poohi why not change strategy. Here are a few ideas
1) Declare he will control population through tough measures.
2) He will ensure that scienctific education will be prioritised over religious beliefs.
3) No proselytizing action by his supporters.
4) NO support to ” secular votes ” in case they start RIOTING based on rumours.
5) NO under educated jhollawallas and rent a journalist will be given position of power in INDIA’S EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC SECTORS.
6) NO restrictions on SOCIAL MEDIA as it exposes FAKE NARRATIVES.
A classic case of hyprocrisy by Ruhi Tewari. She is preaching morality to social media platforms in an article that reeks of amorality and bias. Her diatribe against PM Modi is simply a product of her frustration that despite hours of typing non-sense after non-sense, she is neither gaining traction nor is able to influence voters to abandon PM Modi. So, now she is firing shots at 10 Janpath who have reduced her and her left friends to non-entities. A classic case where even if you replace Congress with Ruhi Tewari in this article conclusions are very much the same. SHAME ON PARTISAN MEDIA.
As is her style, the author spews bile & venom at Mr. Modi, probably India’s most respected PM till date. I quote from her article, “his self-aggrandisement, narcissistic tendencies, Hindutva hate spewing or his party’s toxic majoritarian agenda.”.
Ms. Tewari, could you please enlighten your readers with one authentic & convincing example of when & how the PM has displayed the above? Also please attempt a veneer of ‘balanced journalism’ by describing how the Congress and its God like “leaders” i.e Mr. Rahul Gandhi & his mother don’t indulge in these practices. Surely an “experienced journalist” such a yourself is capable of that? Oops, your slip is showing Ms Tewari!
LOL. “Most respected PM till date” by chaddi wearing bhakts only,, you should also include all of us from south to north also. We dont give a sh*t about Modi and we will prove it to you in our TN elections
The Congress should not make it personal. It should focus on issues which affect ordinary households. Inflation is getting added to several others where almost everyone is hurting. How are millions of jobs being lost – whether due to Covid or otherwise is a matter of detail – not important to voters. The condition of our Smart Cities when it rains. The place to start would be the ruling party’s election manifesto for 2014, all the promises that were made, checking out how well they have been delivered. Where the Congress senses the national mood is not with its core beliefs, like the Ram Mandir, for instance, silence is better than brazen, self serving support. Whenever there is hate crime against the Muslims and Dalits, speak up forcefully. Do not be apologetic for standing by the underprivileged in a majoritarian atmosphere.
Even this writer seems to have heartburns over Modi’s popularity. Mind you, I am no Bhakt. But, why spew venom against him. Look at our electoral politics since 1971. More the opposition abused Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, more the opposition lost. At least until 2009 election this proved right. Indian voters don’t approve hate politics.
Any congress is a loser and has to look for new excuses. Winner does not need to look for excuses. AICC WC has decided that the funeral rites of Congress party should be performed by the Gandhis. So be it!
The Gandhi family sychophants must realise that an ailing mother or an eccentric son at present can’t redeem the dying party… They must look for a young dynamic leader who can rejuvenate the party as well as coordinate all the opposition parties… Only then Congress can come back to power and save the destroyed country…
ONE MAY AGREE OR DISAGREE, RAHUL GANDHI HAS THE GUTS AND SPIRIT TO ATTACK NARENDRA MODI AND ITS GOVT. BLATANTLY WHICH OTHER LEADERS COULD NOT DARED TO !! THE NEED OF THE HOUR IS TO ATTACK ….ATTACK …AND ATTACK THIS FASCIST MAN AND HIS FASCIST GOV. FROM ALL CORNERS.THE COUNTRY IS GOING ( OR HAS GONE) INTO THE HANDS OF “THUGS & SCOUNDRELS”UNDER THIS BJP RULE AND CONGRESS UNDER RAHUL CAN ONLY CHALLENGE THIS AUTOCRATIC REGIME !!
I think it’s a shitty article to begin with… The most popular ceo’s and leaders are truly narcissistic in nature . In so many years print has never written such praise for modi. No one answered the question when extra evms were caught…. And it’s a goddamn minority government bitches.. 31 percent is minority.. they admit of being the Highest bidders in horse training. You ,the stupid journalist at print should be shameful and burn your degrees (if you have) for publishing such a biased article…coz our dictator blames everything on nehru…lacks accountability has zero ownership… Definitely the majority doesn’t want him in power…he his in power coz of shitty media institution’s like you.RIP Democracy
31% – that is true for all governments, including UPA-I and UPA-II. Did you claim MMS govt was minority at that time?
Is any more proof of Mr Gandhi’s incompetence required?
In fact, RG secretly envies Modi’s popularity. When he started his career in politics, he wished to be a popular leader like his grandma. But he ended up as being the ‘Pappu’ of Indian politics. By personally attacking Modi RG thinks he can turn tables around and become a mass leader where everyone waiting to hear from him. Rg lives in fool’s, fool’s paradise.
On point, Congress need to wake up and smell the coffee, that 19% vote share will now drop even further
The article by R Tiwari is simply a Journalistic presentation aimed at justifying Modi Wave.Some of the observations r factually incorrect & sweeping.
Hardly anything new.