BJP attempts to defuse troll-gate

Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has become very active on the social media defending itself, after allegations that it makes its volunteers troll people online. Apparently a certain Sadhavi Khosla, who happens to be from Punjab and was part of the Mission 272 team that worked online ahead of the 2014 Parliament polls, has alleged that the party leaders asked them to troll others on Twitter. The allegation by senior BJP leaders is that Ms Khosla asked for a post in Punjab BJP and after being turned down, she joined Congress. However, Ms Khosla has refuted the allegations.

Allegations that BJP encourages trolling is part of a book, I am a Troll by journalist Swati Chaturvedi, which has already left BJP miffed. BJP leaders have released an alleged email correspondence between Ms Khosla and the then head of BJP’s social media cell, Arvind Gupta, on February 18, 2015.

The mail reads, “Dear Mr Gupta… just a quick introduction — I was a part of Mission 272+ and a volunteer for BJP, I worked along with Smita Barooah, and recently met you at Smita’s brother’s reception in Delhi, I am writing this to bring in to your attention, that the way current political situation is in Punjab, BJP will have to do more than before in the state if it has to come back to power in 2017...”

The mail further reads, “… BJP in Punjab is very weak and hence I highly recommend setting up an IT cell in Punjab to connect with the youth… I would be happy to assist you in this initiative…I look forward to hear from you.” A senior BJP leader from the state claimed lakhs of people were associated with the Mission 272 programme and Ms Khosla was just another member. “Khosla asked for a post in Punjab and hinted that she be made the IT cell head, only when it was told to her that it isn’t possible she switched sides.”

However, Ms Khosla said, “All rubbish claims. I was a volunteer (unpaid). Only offered to help BJP in Punjab if they snapped ties with the Akalis. Check my Twitter — I am working on Punjab’s drug issue. I am not part of Congress, neither member nor volunteer. My documentary on Punjab’s drugs was released, which a few Congress leaders had attended out of choice. Mr Modi follows me on Twitter. And I had been raising the issues that are stated in the book on Twitter as well.”