The Washington Post Reveals Covert Indian Government Operations to Suppress Dissent

In a startling revelation, The Washington Post has brought to light covert operations conducted by the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aimed at stifling critical voices both within and outside the country. The reports expose the deployment of a disinformation lab in the United States, orchestrated by Lt Col Dibya Satpathy of India’s intelligence agency RAW.

Established in mid-2020, the Disinfo Lab allegedly links individuals and organizations critical of Modi to various Islamic or conspiracy groups. Lt Col Satpathy, according to the report, has actively worked to shape international perceptions of India, meeting with Western journalists under aliases to seek favorable coverage for India while discrediting its adversaries, namely Pakistan and China.

The disinformation lab’s reports, all purportedly anti-Pakistan and pro-Modi in nature, accuse dissenting voices of being part of a global conspiracy led by Islamic groups and billionaire George Soros to undermine India. These allegations, propagated by pro-Modi influencers on social media, have also made their way to mainstream Indian news channels and even reached the US Congress.

The Washington Post identifies a network of 250 Twitter accounts responsible for spreading these reports, including 35 Modi ministers, 14 government officials, and 61 paid Modi journalists. This revelation underscores how the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies have expanded their online propaganda campaigns beyond domestic aims, now seeking to influence attitudes beyond India’s borders.

The report references incidents that further highlight the Indian government’s attempts to control dissent, such as Elon Musk’s claim that the Modi government pressured Twitter to remove anti-Modi tweets in January 2023, the raid on BBC offices in February 2023 for airing an anti-Modi documentary, and the suspension of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s parliamentary membership in March for criticizing Modi.

This is not the first time global media has exposed the Modi government and the BJP’s social media operations. Previous revelations have detailed the creation of WhatsApp and Facebook groups to fuel Islamophobia. The current findings, however, paint a broader picture of a concerted effort to manipulate international perceptions, with the disinformation lab playing a pivotal role in shaping the narrative in favor of the Indian government.

The Washington Post’s investigation brings into question the ethical boundaries of governments engaging in covert online propaganda, highlighting the need for increased scrutiny and transparency. As India grapples with allegations of stifling dissent, the global community watches closely, emphasizing the importance of preserving democratic values and freedom of expression on a global scale.