Israeli team rigging polls in India: Congress slams BJP-led Centre

New Delhi: The Congress party slammed the BJP-led Centre on Thursday after the investigative report by a consortium of international journalists revealed that a team of Israeli contractors interfered in more than 30 elections across the world, including India, Hindustan Times reported.

The party has demanded a probe into the revelations in the report published by the consortium, which includes reporters from 30 global media houses such as The Guardian.

According to the report published on Wednesday, “Team Jorge”, headed by Tal Hanan, an Israeli special forces operative, was the one behind fake social media campaigns to rig elections across the countries of the UK, the US, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Mexico, Senegal, India, and the United Arab Emirates.

Congress accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government of cooperating with “Team Jorge”, which resulted in a direct impact on the election process in the country.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate alleged that the Israeli team spread fake news and disinformation via Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and Gmail. She added that BJP’s IT cell used “Team Jorge’s” modes of operandi.

She reminded that this is not the first time the current union government has been accused of data theft. Data theft and manipulation to rig elections were among the serious charges raised against the BJP-led government, she said.

“This government is known to play with big data to their advantage,” HT quoted her.

Shrinade further accused the PM of having more than 60 per cent fake followers on social media. She added that more than 18,000 fake accounts on Twitter work at BJP’s behest to amplify fabricated information.

Later, Congress leader Pawan Khera connected the new development with the Adani Group. He asked how many companies of Adani gave money to the Modi government and where Modi spent it. Khera specified whether it was Pegasus or Jorge.

“How many companies of Adani gave money to Modi government? Where has he spent it? Pegasus or Jorge?” HT quoted him.

So far, the BJP has not reacted.