The way BJP was tried to prove that BJP is opposed to SC, ST and OBC reservation through fake videos before the third phase of Lok Sabha elections, is in itself a question on the usefulness and relevance of internet media! Frankly speaking, this is the tragedy of internet media, against which there is a need for strict and effective regulation like print media. Actually, in this fake video, Union Home Minister and veteran BJP strategist Amit Shah is shown announcing the abolition of reservation. Whereas the reality is that in the original video, Amit Shah talks about maintaining SC, ST and OBC reservations.
This is the reason why after the fake video of Amit Shah was circulated, the Home Ministry complained to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora two days ago. After which, on the instructions of Delhi Police Commissioner, the ISFO unit registered the case under sections 153 (incitement with intent to incite riot), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on the basis of religion, caste, place of birth, residence, language etc.), 465 (forgery). A case has been registered under sections 469 (causing damage to the reputation of the party) and 171G (publishing false statement with intent to influence the election result).
Expressing concern over this matter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing an election rally in Satara, Maharashtra recently said that “Technology has great use and importance in the 21st century. I have always used the internet media to connect with the public. To connect, one thing is disturbing these days. Those who are not able to fight face to face with BJP and NDA on the basis of truth, issues and their work, they are now spreading fake videos on the internet media. They are spreading wrong messages in the voice of our party leaders. Whenever you find fake videos, inform the police.
However, in connection with the edited video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the Special Cell of Delhi Police has called Congress leader and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to Delhi on May 1 for questioning. The police have also asked him to bring along all the electronic gadgets used by him, as Reddy had also posted an edited video on “X”.
Not only this, Delhi Police has sent notice to six people from Telangana including Revanth Reddy, which also includes Telangana Congress Committee President Anumula Revanth Reddy, Mane Satish, Naveen, Shivshankar, Asma Taslim. A team of Delhi Police has reached Hyderabad to investigate this matter and has detained a person. At the same time, in this case, Assam Police has arrested a person Ritam Singh, who is associated with Congress and works as the war room coordinator of the party.
Giving his reaction in this matter, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said that he will not be afraid of the notice from Delhi Police. Speaking at a Congress rally in Karnataka's Sedam, Reddy alleged that he had received information that Delhi Police officials had reached the Telangana Congress headquarters in Hyderabad. He had a notice stating that he would arrest the Telangana Congress President and the Chief Minister of Telangana. This means that Narendra Modi ji has stopped misusing ED, Income Tax Department, CBI to win elections and is now misusing Delhi Police. But no one is afraid here. People will answer this here. BJP will lose the elections of Telangana and Karnataka.
It is clear from this that the issue of reservation has become heated before the third phase of Lok Sabha elections. After coming to power, BJP has used all its strength to counter the Congress attack of changing the Constitution and ending SC, ST and OBC reservations. The party has fielded former UP DGP and MP Brijlal. Brijlal described Congress and other opposition parties as deprived, opponents of reservation, Baba Saheb Ambedkar and the Constitution. Citing the letter written by the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru to all the Chief Ministers in 1961, he said, Congress does not like reservation from the beginning.
BJP MP Brij Lal went a step further and termed the allegation against BJP of changing the Constitution as a rumour, saying that Congress has made the most changes in the Constitution. Congress only pretends to be Bhim-Meem, whereas in its heart there is only Meem-Meem. He said that Congress gave reservation to Muslims by reducing OBC quota in Andhra Pradesh. Similarly, in Karnataka too, OBC reservation was snatched away and given to Muslims.
At the same time, the BJP delegation led by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and BJP Media Department Head Anil Baluni has lodged a complaint with the Central Election Commission officials regarding the deep fake video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Besides, many cases related to deep fakes in election campaign have also been presented before the Commission.
In such a situation, the natural question is that the way media standards are being flouted on internet media/social media is a matter of concern for contemporary democracy. I clearly believe that the same laws made for print media should be applied to TV media and web media/social media and some new sections should be added to make them more useful, relevant and practical. Only by doing this can we prevent the society from falling into the trap of moral epidemic. Especially in case of fake videos, there should be no pick and choose action. As it is still felt. Obscenity should also be eliminated from this platform.
– Kamlesh Pandey
Senior journalist and columnist
