Political BJP on Fire Against India’s Global Allies

BJP’s global blame game masks domestic crises, with Kashmir at the heart of the storm.

India’s ruling BJP has accused US State Department, “deep state” elements, and investigative journalists like the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) of conspiring to destabilize India by targeting Modi and his government. These are linked to reports criticizing the Adani Group’s alleged corrupt practices and the use of Israeli Pegasus spyware to surveil critics.

Later, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi stated that the BJP’s allegations were based on a report published by a French media platform and US should make clear its position on the matter. However, this row is originally intended to divert local and global attention from Adani-Modi nexus and undisclosed India-China border deal. (Deccan Herald). 

As per ruling BJP, a French investigative journalist has revealed that the US govt controls the media organization OCCRP with 50% of OCCRP’s funding comes directly from the US State Department; hence, therefore, functions as a media tool for carrying out deep state agendas of the US. The US Embassy India spokesperson described the allegations as “disappointing” and asserted that US government has been a champion of media freedom around the world and does not influence editorial decisions or direction of these organizations. 

Carine Fouteau (The publisher and director French outlet Mediapart ) amid Congress-Soros-OCCRP row responded by stating, “Mediapart firmly condemns the instrumentalization of its recently published investigative article about OCCRP by the PM Narendra Modi, in order to serve BJP’s political agenda and attack press freedom.” The Indian government led by Modi has often been seen using international conspiracy theories, such as accusations against the US or financier-philanthropist George Soros, to divert attention from pressing domestic issues.

BJP frames external criticism as an attack on India’s sovereignty to evoke nationalist sentiments and silence dissenting voices domestically. The Modi government routinely discredits organizations like OCCRP by labeling them foreign agents, undermining transparency efforts as shield for her mega corruption scandals. Reports of Pegasus spyware being used to surveil activists and journalists point to state-sponsored suppression of dissent, which has been internationally condemned.

Accusations against individuals like George Soros, US and Rahul Gandhi link are exaggerated and politically motivated to paint criticism as part of a global anti-India agenda. In a nutshell, blame game by India against Soros, the US, French media outlet and Rahul is infact a bid to divert attention from Adani Group’s US sandal and covert deal with China on border issue etc. The opposition parties are already demanding parliamentary debate. India’s attempts to frame domestic criticism as foreign interference, such as linking US agencies to protests or reports, erode trust with global allies.

Time and again, India has been implicated in creating fake media outlets and NGOs, as revealed by EU DisinfoLab, to spread anti-Pakistan and pro-India narratives globally through Asian News International, (Indian news agency), undermining its credibility. The countries can set up specialized teams within cybersecurity and intelligence agencies to monitor disinformation drives by foreign states including India and collaborate with organizations like EU DisinfoLab and Reporters Without Borders etc. to expose propaganda networks.

By framing international scrutiny over human rights violations and corruption as “foreign interference,” the BJP projects criticism as attacks on India’s sovereignty, silencing dissent while masking its failures on contentious matters like: Human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir post-Article 370 revocation, allegations of state-sponsored surveillance using Pegasus spyware, growing tensions over economic inequality and communal polarization, etc.

India’s strategy of blaming global allies and independent watchdogs not only strains India’s international relationships but also deepens domestic political polarization—with Kashmir at the center of this geopolitical and ideological firestorm.

By combining investigative efforts, stricter regulations, and public education; Western countries can effectively counter and mitigate the impact of India-sponsored disinformation campaigns.