In yet another astonishing display of editorial selectivity, or should we say loyalty to paymasters?, leftist rag The Wire’s coverage of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s 2025 report appears more interested in praising Pakistan’s “military success” and highlighting Chinese weaponry than confronting a far more serious concern: China’s use of artificial intelligence to run an orchestrated disinformation campaign against India during Operation Sindoor.

The article, titled “‘Pakistan’s Military Success over India in its Four-day Clash Showcased Chinese Weaponry’: US House Panel,” gushingly reiterates how Pakistan used Chinese hardware—J-10 jets, HQ-9 missile systems, and PL-15 air-to-air missiles—to allegedly down Indian Rafales, turning the battlefield into a showroom for Chinese exports.

The Wire even echoes the report’s mention of Indonesia pausing its Rafale purchase due to this “success.” But what the rag deliberately omits is perhaps the most damning portion of the US report: China’s fake news operation using AI-generated images and social media bots to push lies.

What The Wire Didn’t Tell You

The same US-China Economic and Security Review Commission report that The Wire selectively quotes from also contains a critical section that the publication chose to completely ignore. The report explicitly states: “Following the May 2025 India-Pakistan border crisis, China initiated a disinformation campaign to hinder sales of French Rafale aircraft in favour of its own J-35s, using fake social media accounts to propagate AI images of supposed debris from the planes that China’s weaponry destroyed.”

Let that sink in.

The very “success” of Chinese weapons that The Wire uncritically amplifies was actively peddled through a covert influence operation involving AI-generated imagery, fake social media accounts, and a systematic campaign to manipulate global opinion. This wasn’t just battlefield performance; it was information warfare. And The Wire became an unwitting, or perhaps willing, megaphone for it.

This isn’t an isolated oversight. It fits a disturbing pattern where certain Indian media platforms, under the guise of “critical journalism,” consistently amplify narratives that align with the interests of those hostile to India.

• No mention of how Chinese embassy officials led this disinformation drive.
• No mention of how the campaign sought to sabotage Rafale sales to Indonesia.
• No mention of the well-documented collaboration between Chinese state actors and Pakistani propaganda machinery to undermine India’s strategic position.

Despite its self-proclaimed mission of critical journalism, The Wire chose not to report on Beijing’s disinformation war against India, a campaign so blatant that French intelligence flagged it and global media covered it. Instead, it sanitized China’s role, omitted Pakistan’s complicity, and spotlighted Rafale losses without a shred of skepticism. Where was the scrutiny of Chinese propaganda tactics? Where was the outrage over AI-generated lies masquerading as battlefield truth?

Instead, The Wire offers its readers a one-sided glorification of Pakistani military capability and Chinese technological prowess, a narrative that Beijing and Rawalpindi would be hard-pressed to market so effectively on their own.

And let’s not forget the wider implications. China and Pakistan conducted joint “counterterror” drills just months before the conflict, and Chinese naval forces participated in AMAN war games alongside Pakistan in early 2025. By June, China was offering Pakistan 40 fifth-generation J-35s and KJ-500 early warning aircraft. This wasn’t just opportunism; it was orchestration. Yet, The Wire offers no context – is it because it doesn’t serve its purpose of an anti-India narrative setting?

When a supposedly “progressive” Indian outlet echoes Beijing’s propaganda victories and ignores its lies, it ceases to be a platform for dissent and becomes a megaphone for distortion.

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The post Leftist Rag The Wire Becomes Chinese Megaphone? Report Silent On China’s Disinformation War During Operation Sindoor appeared first on The Commune.

A detailed on-ground investigation by The Indian Express has found that the key examples cited by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to allege widespread voter fraud in the Haryana Assembly elections do not stand up to scrutiny.

The investigation reveals that the cases presented as evidence of a “stolen” election are, in fact, large joint families sharing addresses and local voters affected by clerical errors – including the misuse of a Brazilian model’s stock photo on voter rolls.

The “66 Voters, One House” Claim

During a press conference, Gandhi pointed to House Number 150 in Hodal’s Gudhrana village, alleging 66 voters were registered in a single house belonging to a BJP official, Umesh Gudhrana.

On-Ground Finding: The property is a large, multi-generational family plot. Umesh’s uncle, Rajpal Gudhrana (60), explained that his father and three brothers settled on the 10-acre plot 80 years ago. As the family grew, individual homes were built, all retaining the original “House Number 150.”

Statement: “Four generations of our family live together… There is no question of vote theft,” Umesh Gudhrana stated. The 66 voters are all verified relatives.

The “501 Voters, One House” Claim

Gandhi also highlighted House Number 265 in the same village, claiming it had 501 registered voters but “could not be found.”

On-Ground Finding: The location is a vast residential colony. The original landowning family, the Sorouts, gradually sold plots over generations. The area now contains approximately 200 houses and three private schools.

Statement: Pawan Sorout (26) clarified, “Six generations of my family live in the vicinity along with people who bought the land.” All residents, including unrelated buyers like Shyamwati Singh (46), legally use “265” as their official address for voter registration.

The “Brazilian Voter Fraud” Claim

Gandhi’s most sensational claim was that a stock photo of a Brazilian model was used for 22 fake votes across 10 booths in Rai, Sonipat, under names like Seema, Sweety, and Saraswati.

On-Ground Finding: Reporters tracked down four of the women from the list. All are real, local residents who voted without any issue. The Brazilian model’s photo was a clerical error on the rolls, not evidence of impersonation.

Sweety, a homemaker, stated, “I did not have any issues voting this time; I used my 2012 voter card and the slip they issued.”

Darshana Joon’s daughter, Harsha (24), showed her mother’s 2019 voter ID with the correct photo, noting the roll’s image was “clearly wrong.”

Pinki from Machhraula village confirmed her Elector’s Photo Identity Card (EPIC) had a wrong photo but it was another local woman’s image, not the Brazilian model’s. She voted using a voter slip and Aadhaar card while awaiting a correction. The Booth Level Officer (BLO) pleaded ignorance of how the stock photo was inserted.

Political Context and Official Refutation

The Congress candidate from Rai, Jai Bhagwan Antil, who lost by 4,673 votes, maintained the election was won with “fake votes.” However, the Election Commission of India has previously refuted Gandhi’s broader allegations, noting that Congress’s own polling agents raised no objections during the voting process.

This ground report substantiates that the evidence presented as a “centralised voter fraud operation” points instead to routine administrative issues and the realities of large family structures in rural India, raising serious questions about the veracity of the “vote chori” narrative.

(Source: Indian Express)

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The post Indian Express Ground Report Collapses Rahul Gandhi’s Pack Of Lies On ‘Stolen Election’ In Haryana appeared first on The Commune.

Self-proclaimed “independent investigative journalist” or more like leftist-funded propagandist Ravi Nair wrote a post on 6 November 2025 on his X handle, that misrepresented Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited’s (APSEZ) financial disclosures. Nair claimed that the company’s ₹5,000 crore non-convertible debenture (NCD) issue involved opaque related-party transactions, citing excerpts from a May 2025 regulatory filing.

After backlash, he deleted the post.

What Actually Happened?

The controversy began when Nair posted a screenshot of a financial document from Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited, along with the comment, “This is exactly what we said in our last story in WaPo. Did we say anything wrong? I rest the case here for the time being ;)”

The document in question was a statutory filing detailing the utilization of proceeds from a ₹5,000 crore Non-Convertible Debenture (NCD) issue. Nair’s implication was that the company had acted opaquely, using the newly raised funds simply to repay other loans from banks like State Bank of India and Yes Bank.

The table, however, showed that the NCD proceeds were utilized for standard debt refinancing and short-term loan repayments including ₹2,943.73 crore to State Bank of India and ₹1,546 crore to Yes Bank in May and June 2025 – all in compliance with the stated purpose outlined in the company’s official documents.

Adani Group CFO Response

The narrative was swiftly challenged by Adani Group Chief Financial Officer, Jugeshinder Singh. Singh clarified that the use of funds for “repayment/refinancing of existing debt” was not only explicitly listed as a primary objective in the very document Nair cited but was also a standard and legitimate corporate financial practice aimed at managing debt maturity profiles.

This is why @t_d_h_nair is a proud member of “Modern day Moron” club. What he is not telling you is this:https://t.co/iT75lkvMc9

If you ever took commerce stream in 10+2 system (ie grade 11 in school), you woudl know. Ravi does not understand elementary cash management. That… https://t.co/6fF2rdDzDH

— Jugeshinder Robbie Singh (@jugeshinder) November 6, 2025

Faced with this factual rebuttal, Nair silently deleted the tweet. He has not issued a public correction or apology for the initial post.

A Lesson in Corporate Finance

Financial experts explain that the document Nair shared clearly outlined three permissible uses for the funds: (a) debt repayment/refinancing, (b) general corporate purposes, and (c) capital expenditure. By using the funds to repay shorter-term bank facilities, Adani Ports was operating squarely within the legally disclosed parameters—a common strategy for companies seeking to extend debt maturities or optimize their capital structure.

Netizen Response

Netizens trashed Nair’s understanding of economics, numbers, finance and called out his lack of understanding of basic 11th standard commerce.

Ravi Nair ko balance sheet de do, woh scandal bana dega.@washingtonpost ko de do, woh “global exposé” likh dega.

Ignorance ka global supply chain ready hai. https://t.co/4QEQQky8Z1 pic.twitter.com/4kwkrWOi2C

— Facts (@BefittingFacts) November 6, 2025

Imagine failing 11th-grade commerce, then waking up one day and writing opinion pieces on global finance.
That’s Ravi Nair. And Washington Post, they called it journalism https://t.co/eHQynk39eL

— Rosy (@rose_k01) November 6, 2025

Finance ka gyaan Ravi Nair se lena is like learning driving from a guy who’s never seen a steering wheel.@washingtonpost publishes his confusion like it’s gospel truth. https://t.co/YT0vr7NZkD pic.twitter.com/zb6qaEmyuU

— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) November 6, 2025

“Ravi Nair reads a financial statement like a chef reads a circuit diagram, zero clue, full confidence,” quipped one user, summarizing the sentiment of many.

Ravi Nair reads a financial statement like a chef reads a circuit diagram, zero clue, full confidence.
And @WashingtonPost happily prints it as ‘investigative journalism.’

And he deleted the tweet when called for. Together, they’ve turned ignorance into an editorial policy https://t.co/UNCc3oQqEe

— The Analyzer (News Updates) (@Indian_Analyzer) November 6, 2025

Nair & Adani – Not The First Time

This is not the first time that Nair has targeted the Adani group. In October 2025, Nair published a propaganda piece in Washington Post claiming a ₹33,000 crore ($3.9 billion) LIC “bailout” for the Adani Group has drawn sharp criticism in India for alleged factual distortion and bias. LIC and government officials dismissed the claim as baseless, clarifying that the transaction was a routine, AAA-rated bond subscription within regulatory norms.

Former LIC chairman Siddhartha Mohanty called the story a “misleading narrative,” noting LIC’s independent decision-making and strong financials, including ₹48,151 crore profit in FY 2024–25. Critics argued the report reflects a recurring anti-India pattern in The Washington Post’s coverage, noting that all its 2024 Pulitzer finalists centered on negative portrayals of India. Reporter Pranshu Verma, who co-authored those stories, also wrote the Adani-LIC piece.

Observers saw such narratives as geopolitically motivated attempts to undermine India’s economic rise.

Nair has faced multiple defamation suits for earlier pieces in The Guardian, Frontline, and The Wire, accused of recycling debunked claims and amplifying foreign-funded anti-India narratives linked to groups like OCCRP and Hindenburg. Critics say his work aligns with Western short-sellers and political actors seeking to damage India’s economic reputation. From false EVM claims to sensationalized Adani “exposés,” Nair has become emblematic of what many describe as propaganda journalism – reckless, inaccurate, and driven by ideology rather than fact.

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The post Pro-Congress Propagandist Ravi Nair Who Writes For Leftist Rags Tried To Turn A Routine Filing Into A Fake Adani Scandal, Deletes Post Silently After Adani Group CFO Schools Him On Finance 101 appeared first on The Commune.

The Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) legal cell has filed a complaint with the state Director General of Police (DGP) against BBC Tamil, accusing the outlet of attempting to incite unrest and mislead the country’s youth through a recent article.

The complaint, led by A. Kumaraguru, president of the Tamil Nadu BJP’s legal wing, targets a BBC Tamil report titled “Why are Gen Z, who destabilize governments in other countries, not taking to the streets in India?” The article was published in English as well.

The BJP has alleged that the article is part of a larger conspiracy aimed at creating discontent and provoking young people to take part in anti-government protests.

Kumaraguru stated that the report forms part of a “foreign conspiracy” to undermine India’s stability and progress. He described the article as “misleading and malicious,” alleging that it was intended to tarnish India’s image and disrupt peace within the country. He further stated that such efforts by foreign media were aimed at halting India’s growth, especially as the nation had risen to become the world’s fourth-largest economy.

Calling for strict police action, Kumaraguru urged authorities to ensure that no media outlet publishes what he termed as “inflammatory and false” content in the future. BJP State Vice President Paul Kanagaraj and other members of the party’s legal cell were also present during the press briefing.

Under the instructions of BJP State President, Shri @NainarBJP, as the State President of the BJP Legal Cell, Tamil Nadu, I have given a criminal complaint in the DGP office, Chennai against @bbctamil for publishing a provocative and misleading article aimed at inciting #GenZ… pic.twitter.com/HblU5yVy4h

— A.Kumaraguru BJP (@guru_adhi) October 28, 2025

(Source: Latestly)

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The post BJP TN Files Complaint Against BBC For Its Propaganda Piece Instigating India’s Gen Z To Hit The Streets appeared first on The Commune.

The Dharmasthala “mass burial” claims crumbled in a matter of weeks as the ‘whistleblower’ and the lady whose alleged daughter went allegedly missing years ago in the holy town confessed that what they had said was a lie.

While the likes of The News Minute tried to push the propaganda to a level, they were ably aided by a group of YouTubers in the Tamil media space.

Several of them had begun by talking about the Sowjanya murder case back in March/April 2025.

Following this most of them received gag orders from the court that prevented them from peddling lies against the revered Hindu institution – Dharmasthala.

Despite this, there were many who kept pushing conspiracy theories and all kinds of concoctions that were alienish in concept – it was very clear that what was being said was purely to generate views and confuse the viewer. Let us take a look at a few such YouTubers who aided in keeping the lie afloat.

Maayam Studios – Karthik Maayakumar

With a blatant disregard for factual accuracy and verification, Karthik, the host, repeatedly builds entire videos around unconfirmed rumors, graphic allegations, and speculative theories, often presenting them as breaking news. He frequently admits that key claims such as the discovery of human remains lack official confirmation, yet he dedicates significant airtime to detailing them. This “report first, verify later” approach prioritizes sensationalism over truth, misleading viewers and spreading unverified information that can cause public panic, harm reputations, and distress families of missing persons.

Furthermore, the content actively interferes with serious criminal investigations. By disclosing specific, unverified details and speculative narratives, he is prejudicing public opinion. He also exploits emotional and sensitive topics for engagement and monetization. He manipulatively focuses on the anguish of grieving families, uses horror-movie language, and juxtaposes tragic themes with jarring advertisements. This not only trivializes human suffering but also commercializes tragedy, reducing serious allegations to clickbait fodder.

Another major issue with these videos is the politicization and polarization of the issues. He frames the entire issue as a political battle, amplifying partisan accusations without providing balanced reporting. He also violates ethical and legal boundaries, including potential contempt of court by discussing topics covered by gag orders and engaging in defamatory speculation about individuals. His rhetoric encourages distrust of authorities and subtly promotes vigilante sentiments, which can have dangerous real-world consequences. Here is a look at how many videos he has posted on the issue and the clickbait cover pictures and headlines:

Nakkheeran & Damodaran Prakash

Nakkheeran and Damodaran Prakash have severely maligned the Dharmasthala institution by presenting unverified, graphic allegations as established facts. They sensationalized claims of mass murders, sexual violence, and institutional cover-ups without providing credible evidence or official corroboration. By naming specific individuals, including temple administrators and political figures, they engaged in defamatory storytelling that pre-judges guilt and undermines due process.

Their use of horrific, detailed narratives including unverified stories of acid attacks, child victims, and organ theft, exploiting emotional triggers to provoke public outrage. This irresponsible framing not only damages the reputation of the temple and its associated individuals but also risks inciting communal tension and vigilante action. Their content disregards journalistic ethics, judicial boundaries, and the basic necessity of verification, substituting truth with conspiracy-driven entertainment.

Jeeva Today

Jeeva Today posted only one video but it was damaging enough. He once again made unsubstantiated accusations like the other YouTubers. The channel repeatedly presented the whistleblower’s claims as verified truth, weaving together decades-old unrelated cases to construct a false narrative of systematic abuse and murder linked to the temple. Using graphic language, clickbait titles, and exaggerated victim counts, Jeeva amplified baseless theories of a high-level cover-up involving police, politicians, and the judiciary. The channel’s reliance on speculative storytelling over factual reporting eroded public trust in institutions and prejudiced ongoing investigations. By framing the temple administration as guilty without evidence, Jeeva not only maligned a respected religious institution but also endangered the possibility of a fair legal process.

P.S: It has been brought to our notice that Jeeva Today posted several videos making unsubstantiated allegations about the temple administration.

Jeeva today posted only one video is wrong @TheCommuneMag . I remember seeing 3-4 a compilation of few here, tried adding dates. Channel has close to 9.6L subs and the guy without any concern goes on blaming institution, trustee and temple. https://t.co/pLg47wPhAg pic.twitter.com/YB3PDM6zBt

— hi_there (@hi_there_2023) August 25, 2025

Roots Tamil

Roots Tamil contributed to the defamation of Dharmasthala by politicizing the allegations and spreading unverified claims under the guise of political commentary. The channel hosted discussions that framed the issue as a partisan battle, accusing BJP and RSS leaders of orchestrating a conspiracy without providing proof. It By blurring the lines between allegation and fact, Roots Tamil reinforced a toxic narrative that the temple and political entities were complicit in horrific crimes. This approach not only damaged the institution’s standing but also polarized public discourse and undermined the integrity of the investigation.

Edison Vlogs

Edison Vlogs engaged in reckless sensationalism by portraying themselves as heroic investigators uncovering a “D-Gang” operating within Dharmasthala.

While the channel posted only 2 videos, including an “interview of a key witness, he presented unverified claims of hundreds of murders and burials as fact, using dramatic visuals, speculative narration, and emotionally charged language to heighten fear and anger. By detailing alleged secret investigations, naming locations, and speculating about victim counts, Edison Vlogs not only spread misinformation but also jeopardized the safety of sources and the integrity of the official probe. The channel’s self-aggrandizing style and conspiracy-laden content misled viewers, eroded trust in lawful institutions, and caused significant reputational harm to the temple and its community.

News I Tamil

News I Tamil exacerbated the damage through highly inflammatory and unsubstantiated reporting, claiming thousands of murders and a systematic cover-up at Dharmasthala. The channel relied on anonymous sources, manipulated emotional anecdotes, and presented speculative numbers like 4,000 or 9,000 victims without any factual basis. By directly accusing temple authorities and political figures of involvement in rape and murder, and by mixing in communal elements such as targeting Brahmin women, the channel fueled social hostility and distrust. Its disregard for judicial gag orders, sensationalized storytelling, and monetization of tragedy demonstrated a clear abandonment of journalistic ethics, further harming the institution’s reputation and public trust.

Yoot Evidence

The Yoot Evidence channel’s videos were also indulging in blurring the line between allegation and verified fact. The core failure lies in its treatment of the whistleblower’s claims – graphic, unverified accounts of hundreds of burials, torture, and sexual violence – as established truth. By narrating these horrific details without forensic or legal corroboration, the video primes viewers to accept these allegations as undeniable reality, pre-judging the case and undermining the principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty’.

Furthermore, the videos construct a vast conspiracy narrative by guilt-by-association, linking the current allegations to decades-old, unrelated missing persons cases without any forensic connection. This bundling of tragedies creates a false impression of a long-running, systemic conspiracy. This is compounded by the use of inflated, un-sourced numbers (“hundreds of bodies,” “400-500 missing women”), which magnify the scale of the alleged crimes without evidence.

Despite acknowledging a court gag order, the video strategically implies the involvement of the temple administration and political networks through leading questions and suggestive framing, creating a perception of a cover-up while technically avoiding direct naming. This feigned neutrality masks a clear accusatory stance.

Ask Raghulan

One of the poorest videos in terms of information – the YouTuber doesn’t even know that the place in question is Dharmasthala and not Dharmashala. We bet he doesn’t know where the latter is located.

He pushes the unverified facts as established facts, without providing a single piece of credible evidence. This baseless narrative is designed purely to provoke outrage and fear. He repeatedly undermines India’s democratic institutions, pre-judging the investigation and judiciary by declaring a cover-up before it has even concluded. This erodes public trust in law enforcement and the courts. Furthermore, the commentary escalates into incitement by openly calling for violent vigilantism, wishing for a “dictator for a day” to execute the accused, thus explicitly rejecting the rule of law and due process. The content is saturated with harmful conspiracy theories, including baseless claims of government censorship and international espionage, and promotes a generalized distrust of all religious institutions.

Saravanan Decodes

The videos from “Saravanan Decodes” represent a severe and dangerous escalation in the irresponsible coverage of the Dharmasthala case. Saravanan openly defies legal authority by knowingly violating a court-issued gag order, first attempting to circumvent it and then misleadingly claiming it was “removed” to justify publishing highly prejudicial content. The content itself is egregiously sensationalist, employing graphic, horror-movie-style descriptions of unverified sexual violence and murder purely for shock value and emotional manipulation. He completely abandons any pretense of journalistic impartiality by presenting the whistleblower’s allegations as undeniable fact, conducting a full “trial by media” and directly implicating the temple administration and specific individuals in monstrous crimes without evidence.

Furthermore, the videos weave decades of unrelated cases into a vast, unverified conspiracy theory involving organ theft, murder, and a complete systemic cover-up by police, investigators, and even the judiciary. This narrative is designed to poison public opinion, incite outrage against the accused, and irrevocably undermine trust in all state institutions.

Paari Saalan

The Paari Saalan interview with Varun, while posing as a thoughtful discussion, blurs historical facts, religious rules, and unverified allegations into a single, misleading narrative. It uncritically amplifies the whistleblower’s grave claims of mass burials and sexual violence, presenting them as plausible truth despite the lack of forensic or judicial verification. Furthermore, Paari Saalan irresponsibly links decades-old, unrelated missing persons cases to the temple administration, implying a long-running conspiracy without any evidence.

They directly accuse the Dharmadhikari family of suppressing crimes and wielding excessive power, blending historical context with speculative allegations. By emphasizing the temple’s Jain origins and its shift towards Hinduism, the narrative injects a communal undertone, framing the issue as one of religious and financial dominance rather than focusing on factual inquiry.

Sha Boo Three

RJ Sha’s content often conflates unrelated historical cases, such as the Saujanya (2012) and Padmalatha (1986) incidents, weaving them into an unverified grand conspiracy tied to the temple administration. This not only misleads viewers but also prejudices public perception against the institution. The channel also misrepresents legal processes, criticizing gag orders as suppression of free speech rather than necessary judicial measures to ensure a fair investigation. Furthermore, the videos risk inciting communal and regional tensions by framing the issue in divisive terms, such as highlighting the whistleblower’s ethnic identity or suggesting broad-based corruption across all government and media institutions.

Overall, the entire set of YouTubers in Tamil Nadu, used the unverified claims made by the masked man as gospel truth, tarnished the image of Hindu institutions, made outlandish claims – be it the “gory details”, the numbers of allegedly dead/missing women, and what not. These videos were made purely for driving engagement and monetization.

Several other prominent Tamil YouTubers such as Madan Gowri, Bogan, etc had been posting videos on the Sowjanya murder case and connecting it to the Dharmadhikaris of Dharmasthala. Owing to court orders, the videos were removed, yet some still remain.

Despite the court orders, these videos in Tamil Nadu have been peddling the anti-Hindu Dravidianist narrative and portraying all Hindu institutions as evil and dangerous.

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The post How Tamil YouTubers Weaponized Lies And Baseless Allegations To Attack Dharmasthala appeared first on The Commune.

In 2017, a paper on “How the Chinese government fabricates social media posts for strategic distraction not engaged argument” was published. A closer look at this study reminds of something closer to home, the Dravidian model. First, let us take a finer look at the published study on Chinese propaganda.

The study, which analysed millions of posts linked to China’s infamous “50 Cent Party” (wumao), highlighted several key features of Beijing’s social media disinformation tactics.

Modus Operandi of Chinese Government Propaganda on Social Media

Nature of Propaganda – Contrary to the myth of paid trolls arguing with critics, most Chinese government-directed posts avoided confrontation. Instead, they sought to cheerlead, distract, and flood platforms with pro-government messaging.

Scale of Operations – Researchers estimated 448 million fabricated posts annually, strategically timed around protests, anniversaries, and politically sensitive events to drown out dissent.

Goal of Propaganda – The central aim was not persuasion but “strategic distraction”—filling feeds with positivity and irrelevant chatter to sideline genuine criticism.

Coordination & Secrecy – Operations were centrally directed yet covert. Local governments and Party offices quietly mobilised state employees and agencies to generate content, without admitting it was propaganda. Instructions and credit for posts were managed through propaganda offices at multiple government levels (district, township, bureau, etc.).

Style of Posting – Posts avoided negativity or direct rebuttals, instead relying on banal slogans such as “China is great,” “Support the Party,” and appeals to unity. Many were deliberately cheerful to mask their orchestrated nature.

Was 50-Cent A Myth? – Contrary to belief, most propaganda workers were regular government employees, not freelancers earning 0.5 yuan per post. Participation in online propaganda was often part of their official duties.

Propaganda Warfare Logic – The deeper strategy was agenda control, using mass posting to drown out critics rather than to convince them.

Volume spikes in posting were the result of top-down directions, often after internal meetings or government initiatives.

Selective Targeting – The regime increased posting during periods of potential social unrest, emergencies, or politically sensitive anniversaries.

Posts appeared on both government platforms and popular commercial sites like Sina Weibo, Tencent, etc., mixing with genuine citizen content.

Surveys and Validation – The researchers used leaked emails, direct surveys, and statistical validation to confirm the identity and behavior of government propagandists.

Chinese social media propaganda relied on coordinated, non-confrontational, government-authored posts to flood digital spaces with cheerleading distraction, carefully timed to influence collective perception and quell dissent without engaging in open debate.

Dravidian Model Propaganda – Mirrors Chinese MO

Observers now note that these tactics used by the Chinese echoed the DMK’s “Udan Pirappus”, where party-aligned web warriors are allegedly paid around ₹200 per day to amplify pro-government narratives and stifle criticism. Like the Chinese wumao, these cadres reportedly avoid logical debate, instead relying on volume, positivity, and coordinated flooding of social media feeds. Well, akin to the Chinese machinery, the taxpayer funded “fact checking unit” has also been disseminating fake news over and over again.

Critics argue that this exposes the so-called Dravidian Model as a derivative copy of the Chinese Communist Party’s online propaganda playbook, not a unique or indigenous innovation.

By borrowing wholesale from Beijing’s disinformation strategy, the DMK’s digital apparatus, they say, has less to do with grassroots democracy and more to do with agenda manipulation and narrative control.

Nothing about the #DravidianModel is original or shapechanging. Even the modeling of Rs200/- webwarrior cadre 'Udan Pirappu'is stolen from China: 50CentParty/Wumao – folks who spread govt disinfo & smother critiques, taking 5 jiao per post. (payments from DMK via PR agencies) pic.twitter.com/lgoZfZ1BHg

— nʌᴉɐsᴉɥʇo (@othisaivu) August 16, 2025

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The post Nothing Original, Just Copied: How Dravidian Model Mirrors The Chinese Propaganda Playbook appeared first on The Commune.

In yet another glaring instance of selective quoting and narrative distortion, The Wire has published a misleading article titled “IAF Lost Fighter Jets to Pak Because of Political Leadership’s Constraints”, falsely attributing a statement to India’s Defence Attache to Indonesia, Captain (IN) Shiv Kumar. The report is not just factually inaccurate—it is a textbook case of twisting a nuanced military briefing into a politically loaded attack on the Indian government and armed forces.

What Was Actually Said

Captain Shiv Kumar, during a 35-minute academic seminar in Jakarta on 10 June 2025, clearly praised the Indian Armed Forces’ calibrated, precise, and non-escalatory response to Pakistani aggression during the May 2025 Operation Sindoor. Far from criticising the political leadership, he highlighted the disciplined restraint shown by India, which targeted only terror infrastructure, in line with India’s doctrine of avoiding unnecessary escalation in a nuclear neighbourhood.

Yes, he did refer to “constraints given by the political leadership”, but in the specific context of the initial targeting directive not to hit enemy military or air defence installations. This decision was framed as a strategic restraint, not a failure. He explicitly stated that once losses were registered, Indian forces swiftly adapted, achieving complete air superiority by May 10 through targeted strikes using BrahMos missiles. His full statement was, “So India’s counter-response was again swift, precise and non-escalatory, there is one point that there was the issue of separation of enemy air defense and destruction of enemy air defense which was not undertaken earlier because the constraints given by the political leadership was to only target the terrorist camp. However still it went on and so what news we know, I may not agree with Tommy when he says that India lost so many aircrafts and all that but we all can agree that whatever losses was mentioned, it only speaks about the 7th of May, but this skirmish went on till 10th of May. So what happened on 8th of May, 9th of May, and 10th of May is, this is what happened. so there was complete air superiority and there was separation of enemy air defense undertaken and then one could hit with impunity.”

What The Wire Did Instead

The Wire, in its typical fashion, cherry-picked fragments and twisted them into a fabricated narrative that India’s jets were lost “because of political leadership’s constraints.” That quote does not exist in the presentation. It is an invention, designed to undermine both the civilian leadership and military operations. Their report overlooks the full timeline, ignores the Defence Attaché’s full speech and praise for India’s professionalism, and strategically omits the shift in tactics that turned the tide in India’s favour. Moreover, it sidelines the fact that India refrained from targeting Pakistani military assets as a matter of deliberate, sovereign policy, not compulsion.

Unlike Pakistan, which escalated indiscriminately, India adhered to its policy of proportionate response. And when the battlefield situation evolved, so did the strategy. By May 10, India had successfully neutralised Pakistani air defences and established clear superiority.

As expected, The Wire is back to doing what it does best—spreading fake narratives.

In a 35-minute presentation, Col. Shiv Kumar clearly showcased India’s military and political will to defend our borders and keep them terror-free. He emphasised India’s calibrated,… pic.twitter.com/283lLqcgZg

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 30, 2025

This is not The Wire’s first attempt to distort defence matters. From surgical strikes to Balakote to now Operation Sindoor, their reporting consistently seeks to erode public trust in India’s armed forces by misrepresenting official statements and military achievements.

It is noteworthy that after the controversy created by The Wire’s false reporting, the Indian Embassy in Jakarta released a statement clarifying that, “We have seen media reports regarding a presentation made by the Defence Attache at a Seminar. His remarks have been quoted out of context and the media reports are a misrepresentation of the intention and thrust of the presentation made by the speaker. The presentation conveyed that the Indian Armed Forces serve under civilian political leadership, unlike some other countries in our neighbourhood. It was also explained that the objective of Operation Sindoor was to target terrorist infrastructure and the Indian response was non-escalatory.”

We have seen media reports regarding a presentation made by the Defence Attache at a Seminar.

His remarks have been quoted out of context and the media reports are a mis-representation of the intention and thrust of the presentation made by the speaker.

The presentation…

— India in Indonesia (@IndianEmbJkt) June 29, 2025

Although The Wire updated this information in its article, it did not make any amends to the title or the content.

Selective quoting, invented headlines, and deliberate omission of context are tools of propaganda that the likes of The Wire employ to set anti-India narratives. Captain Shiv Kumar’s presentation was a clear exposition of India’s doctrine of strategic restraint, effective escalation control, and military professionalism. By turning that into a fabricated indictment of the political leadership, The Wire has misled its readers as well as disrespected the very ethos of our Armed Forces.

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The post How Leftist Pro-Congress Rag ‘The Wire’ Twisted Indian Defence Attache’s Statements Demeaning Indian Armed Forces Victory Against Pakistan appeared first on The Commune.

While the DMK-aligned media outlet Kalaignar Seithigal amplified claims that Tanzanian tribal people were “spontaneously” praising Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, the story quickly unraveled as a staged PR effort. To highlight the fabricated nature of the video, a social media user John Ravi, shared another clip showing the same tribal group offering similar praise for a mere $35. The post mocked the DMK’s PR attempt with the caption, “Same tailor, same $35 rent @sunnewstamil @Kalaignarnews,” exposing the manufactured publicity stunt.

In the shared video clip, the tribal group can be seen holding a photo of the netizen while displaying placards that read “We love you John Ravi,” as they sing and dance in a celebratory manner.

அதே டெய்லர் அதே வாடகை 35 டாலர்டா @sunnewstamil @Kalaignarnews pic.twitter.com/c8R59aVDY0

— john ravi. (@johnravi1974) June 20, 2025

This mockery comes at the backdrop of the ruling DMK’s publicity apparatus faced widespread embarrassment after a video initially circulated as a genuine gesture of appreciation from Tanzanian tribes was exposed as a staged and paid promotional effort.

The video, shared by DMK’s (one of the many) mouthpieces, Kalaignar Seithigal’s X handle, claimed, “#WATCH |African tribes extend greetings to the Chief Minister! In appreciation of the initiatives undertaken by the Tamil Nadu government for tribal communities, a video of tribal people from Tanzania, one of the East African countries, performing a traditional dance while holding a photo of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to convey their greetings has gone viral on the internet. The tribal communities learned about the initiatives of the Tamil Nadu government through Dr. Sukumar, a native of Tamil Nadu engaged in social service there.”

#WATCH | முதலமைச்சருக்கு ஆப்பிரிக்க பழங்குடியினர் வாழ்த்து!

பழங்குடி இன மக்களுக்கு தமிழ்நாடு அரசு செய்து வரும் திட்டங்களுக்கு வாழ்த்து தெரிவிக்கும் வகையில், கிழக்கு ஆப்ரிக்கா நாடுகளில் ஒன்றான தான்சானியாவில் வசிக்கும் பழங்குடி இன மக்கள் முதலமைச்சர் மு.க.ஸ்டாலினின் புகைப்படத்தை… pic.twitter.com/BtW6km5FOv

— Kalaignar Seithigal (@Kalaignarnews) June 16, 2025

However, upon closer inspection, it emerges that these “greetings” were anything but spontaneous or sincere. A fact-check revealed that for a small fee — roughly ₹4,000 or $40 — anyone can pay for a group of individuals in Tanzania or elsewhere in Africa to perform a short video message with a photo or poster of their choosing. A fact check handle exposed the DMK’s propaganda drama.

Websites like africanjoyflix.com, wishesmadevisual.com, africanbirthdaywishes.com, and wishfromafrica.net openly provide these services — allowing clients to select a group and script their messages — all for a flat fee.

Furthermore, there’s no credible or independent information suggesting that the people in the video were aware of, much less appreciative of, the initiatives implemented by the DMK government in Tamil Nadu. Dr. Sukumar’s supposed role in this production also stands unsubstantiated.

The fact check handle wrote, “A video titled African tribes congratulate the Chief Minister! @Kalaignarnews. A video was uploaded on the X website, showing Tanzanian tribes dancing and singing in their traditional style and congratulating Chief Minister Stalin.

When we investigated the authenticity of this, we found that the people can send their photos and information about the person they want to congratulate through websites like http://africanjoyflix.com, http://wishesmadevisual.com, http://africanbirthdaywishes.com, http://wishfromafrica.net and send their wishes through the group one chooses on that website. The group charges a service fee of $33 to $40 for this. Doctor Sukumar serves the people in Tanzania and is assisted by the DMK government through programs. It is noteworthy that there is no news, support or information about it to say that people who know about it have congratulated Chief Minister Stalin. Therefore, it has been revealed that this video was created solely for promotional purposes.”

முதலமைச்சருக்கு ஆப்பிரிக்க பழங்குடியினர் வாழ்த்து! என்ற தலைப்பில் @Kalaignarnews X வலைதளத்தில் தான்சானியா பழங்குடியினர் தங்களது பாரம்பரிய முறையில் ஆடிப் பாடி முதல்வர் ஸ்டாலின் அவர்களுக்கு வாழ்த்து கூறியதாக காணொளி ஒன்று பதிவேற்றப்பட்டது.

இதன் உண்மைத்தன்மையை நமது facts and… https://t.co/tBXlWG25K2

— Facts & Perspectives (@FactCheck_TN) June 17, 2025

In terms of Indian rupees, it comes to about INR 4000 as mentioned on the website.

4000 rupees only . Just like the Times square wall paper PR ,you can pay them ,send image and they will wish anyone .#வெக்கம்கெட்டவனுங்களா#இந்தபொழப்புக்கு #மூ……. pic.twitter.com/8shiOm7blK

— Shalin Maria Lawrence (@TheBluePen25) June 17, 2025

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The post “Same Tailor, Same Rent”: Netizen Exposes DMK’s “African Tribals Thanking Stalin” Propaganda With Similar Video appeared first on The Commune.

The ruling DMK’s propaganda machinery has hit a new low after a viral video claiming Tanzanian tribals were “spontaneously” praising Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin was exposed as a paid PR stunt.

The video, shared by DMK’s (one of the many) mouthpieces, Kalaignar Seithigal’s X handle, claimed, “#WATCH | African tribes extend greetings to the Chief Minister! In appreciation of the initiatives undertaken by the Tamil Nadu government for tribal communities, a video of tribal people from Tanzania, one of the East African countries, performing a traditional dance while holding a photo of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to convey their greetings has gone viral on the internet. The tribal communities learned about the initiatives of the Tamil Nadu government through Dr. Sukumar, a native of Tamil Nadu engaged in social service there.”

#WATCH | முதலமைச்சருக்கு ஆப்பிரிக்க பழங்குடியினர் வாழ்த்து!

பழங்குடி இன மக்களுக்கு தமிழ்நாடு அரசு செய்து வரும் திட்டங்களுக்கு வாழ்த்து தெரிவிக்கும் வகையில், கிழக்கு ஆப்ரிக்கா நாடுகளில் ஒன்றான தான்சானியாவில் வசிக்கும் பழங்குடி இன மக்கள் முதலமைச்சர் மு.க.ஸ்டாலினின் புகைப்படத்தை… pic.twitter.com/BtW6km5FOv

— Kalaignar Seithigal (@Kalaignarnews) June 16, 2025

However, upon closer inspection, it emerges that these “greetings” were anything but spontaneous or sincere. A fact-check revealed that for a small fee — roughly ₹4,000 or $40 — anyone can pay for a group of individuals in Tanzania or elsewhere in Africa to perform a short video message with a photo or poster of their choosing. A fact check handle exposed the DMK’s propaganda drama.

Websites like africanjoyflix.com, wishesmadevisual.com, africanbirthdaywishes.com, and wishfromafrica.net openly provide these services — allowing clients to select a group and script their messages — all for a flat fee.

Furthermore, there’s no credible or independent information suggesting that the people in the video were aware of, much less appreciative of, the initiatives implemented by the DMK government in Tamil Nadu. Dr. Sukumar’s supposed role in this production also stands unsubstantiated.

The fact check handle wrote, “A video titled African tribes congratulate the Chief Minister! @Kalaignarnews. A video was uploaded on the X website, showing Tanzanian tribes dancing and singing in their traditional style and congratulating Chief Minister Stalin.

When we investigated the authenticity of this, we found that the people can send their photos and information about the person they want to congratulate through websites like http://africanjoyflix.com, http://wishesmadevisual.com, http://africanbirthdaywishes.com, http://wishfromafrica.net and send their wishes through the group one chooses on that website. The group charges a service fee of $33 to $40 for this. Doctor Sukumar serves the people in Tanzania and is assisted by the DMK government through programs. It is noteworthy that there is no news, support or information about it to say that people who know about it have congratulated Chief Minister Stalin. Therefore, it has been revealed that this video was created solely for promotional purposes.”

முதலமைச்சருக்கு ஆப்பிரிக்க பழங்குடியினர் வாழ்த்து! என்ற தலைப்பில் @Kalaignarnews X வலைதளத்தில் தான்சானியா பழங்குடியினர் தங்களது பாரம்பரிய முறையில் ஆடிப் பாடி முதல்வர் ஸ்டாலின் அவர்களுக்கு வாழ்த்து கூறியதாக காணொளி ஒன்று பதிவேற்றப்பட்டது.

இதன் உண்மைத்தன்மையை நமது facts and… https://t.co/tBXlWG25K2

— Facts & Perspectives (@FactCheck_TN) June 17, 2025

In terms of Indian rupees, it comes to about INR 4000 as mentioned on the website.

4000 rupees only . Just like the Times square wall paper PR ,you can pay them ,send image and they will wish anyone .#வெக்கம்கெட்டவனுங்களா#இந்தபொழப்புக்கு #மூ……. pic.twitter.com/8shiOm7blK

— Shalin Maria Lawrence (@TheBluePen25) June 17, 2025

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The post Dravidian Model Drama Exposed: DMK OoPi Hires African Tribals To Do PR For Stalin appeared first on The Commune.

He positions himself as a satirist, a “neutral” cartoonist who allegedly questions the establishments in power through his works of art. But does he? If one takes a look at his work, right through the years, one can easily confirm that cartoonist Satish Acharya masquerades as a neutral voice while serving as a de facto propagandist for the Indian National Congress.

Far from balanced critique, his body of work only appears to be a calculated effort to shield the Congress party while obsessively lampooning its political rivals. A pattern of selective targeting, ideological omission, and conspicuous silence during Congress failures paints a damning picture of compromised integrity.

Let us take a look at each of his works, available in public domain and analyse it for “neutrality”.

Election Season Satire Or Electioneering?

When the Assembly elections for Karnataka took place, Acharya posted on his X handle that he had voted for “progressive, prosperous, and peaceful Karnataka.”

But when it came to the campaign period, he used his political cartoons to seemingly give the Congress an edge. Acharya’s cartoons conspicuously amplified Congress’s campaign promises while vilifying BJP policies. One viral cartoon juxtaposed Congress’s “Guarantee Card” — referencing free electricity and welfare schemes — against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Victim Card,” portraying the BJP as divisive for raising concerns about “Love Jihad”. 

Another illustration depicted then-CM Siddaramaiah leading citizens toward “prosperity” via freebies, contrasting BJP’s rhetoric as “free fire”.

Tried To “Normalize” Wearing Hijab In Schools

He has earlier spoken against the Jihad ban in Karnataka. Acharya attempted to normalize the wearing of religious attire over school uniforms. However, his attempt was slammed by Islamists.

Mocked Hindus Over Vaccine Hesitancy While Ignoring Muslim Demand For “Halal” Vaccine

Acharya also mocked Hindus over vaccine hesitancy but avoided addressing similar concerns within the Muslim community regarding the halal status of vaccines. He shared a cartoon depicting a man asking the nurse about the ‘Gothra’ of the vaccine to match it with his horoscope, something unheard of in the Hindu community. However, he refused to make a satire on Muslims demanding for Halal vaccine. 

He also mocked the PM for giving “vaccines for free” while charging taxes! Maybe he should have lived in our neighbouring countries where we know how the economy is spirallying southwards!

Some Blatant Anti-BJP Propaganda

Let us take a look at his blatant anti-BJP and anti-Modi propaganda.

Mocking PM Modi for his interview with the BBC many years ago (with Karan Thapar) where he drank water and that allegedly was a sign of him being scared, Acharya came up with a cartoon when there was talk about PM Modi’s podcast with Lex Fridman. PM Modi not only nailed the interview, it garnered massive traffic just hours after its release.

Much to Acharya’s annoyance and dismay, the podcast has 4.8 million views till date!

Ahead of the Delhi elections in 2020, Acharya shared a cartoon suggesting that the BJP is trying to frame the polls as a “Kejriwal vs Pakistan” contest.

But in doing so, he conveniently forgot a key fact: when India conducted surgical strikes against Pakistan in response to the Uri attack, it was Arvind Kejriwal himself—along with a few others—who publicly questioned the military operation and demanded proof.

The same year, Acharya published a cartoon portraying India as the reason for dragging down the global economy, pointing to policy decisions like demonetisation as the cause.

Here are some more anti-BJP cartoons which you will find aplenty but hardly a few on Congress:

In another cartoon which was supposedly pulled down after Mumbai Police interfered, it showed the BJP and various machinery of the government were hands in glove on many things and together they protected “Adani”, allegedly during the Hindenburg scandal.

In 2018, the Modi government revised the UPA-era GDP growth rates downward primarily due to a change in the base year from 2004–05 to 2011–12 and the use of updated data sources and methodologies. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) and NITI Aayog stated that the new back-series incorporated improved methods and internationally comparable standards, as per the UN’s System of National Accounts.

Key reasons for the downward revision include new data sources – for example, mining data now came from public sector annual returns instead of the Indian Bureau of Mines. In telecom, growth was recalculated using “minutes of usage” rather than subscriber numbers. The share of primary and secondary sectors increased while services declined due to revised inputs.

Critics noted the revisions came just before the 2019 elections and contradicted earlier NSC committee findings showing higher UPA growth. However, the government defended the changes as technical and non-political.

And Acharya had to come up with a cartoon!

Like his Congress leaders, Acharya also peddled the same lies claiming that PM Modi’s inclusive banking scheme was to bail out the banking frauds and NPAs.

Similarly, he spewed the same lies in the form of cartoons as Congress claimed PM Modi and the BJP themselves orchestrated the Pulwama terrorist attack in February 2019 which killed 40 of our soldiers. PM Modi vowed to take revenge and we saw Balakote strikes happen. But for Acharya and his ilk, it was an election propaganda.

He made another cartoon on the same terror attack indicating that Modi had claimed there was no major terror attack during the first Modi term. But come February 2019, the brutal attack took place and he peddled propaganda that Modi sought votes in the name of the Pulwama terror attack.

One should remind Satish Acharya that during the Congress era, there was atleast one news item about a bomb blast or a terror attack in some corner of the country. But he rather focuses on Modi and the terror attack that intelligence couldn’t foil.

Following the Balakote strikes, Congress and its supporters, especially the Leftist ecosystem peddled the same propaganda as the Pakistanis who claimed that the air strikes only destroyed trees and not terror camps as claimed by the central government. He came up with these cartoons questioning the absence of “proof” after the strikes.

Just like how leftists peddle propaganda about bad governance under Modi, Satish Acharya also rode on the Hunger Index lie to denounce PM Modi.

In 2024, just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Modi appeared on several podcasts and offered interviews to many media channels. This did not sit well with Congress supporters and people like Satish Acharya had to make fun of it.

Here’s another one – it looks very much like pure hate for a man who is working for the country round the clock.

One would wonder if he made anything about Rahul Gandhi’s interviews and press conferences where he has had senior Congress leaders like Jairam Ramesh prompt him when asked a question by the reporters. But Acharya stays true to his idols, he would not make any derogatory cartoons on them.

In another post mocking PM Modi’s recent (2025) visit to the US and the time when he met the press along with POTUS Donald Trump, there were questions aimed at PM Modi that were needless and felt wanton. Acharya had to amplify this.

Love is blind but it cannot be as blind as the Congress supporters have for their leader and party. Only people like Satish Acharya seemed to assume that the farmer protests were “peaceful” and it was PM Modi who was causing division. Well, we all know the outcome of these protests and how they went on for more than a year.

Praising Rahul Gandhi For Meeting People & Denouncing PM Modi

Following the Hathras incident, Manipur riots, NEET related issues, Rahul Gandhi seemed to be hopping everywhere meeting people and this Acharya claims is the job of a PM while Modi did nothing allegedly. Maybe Acharya doesn’t know which jurisdiction falls under who when one is in power.

By the way, did Acharya question why Rahul Gandhi flew off to Bangkok to party following the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai? Selective amnesia and blindness, you see!

Like a true Congress stooge, Acharya was disillusioned by his leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra which he thought will help bring back his dear party to power in the country. Well, condolences!

Satish Acharya also seemed to be throwing a fit when his dearest leader Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to go to Sambhal. So, he had to vent his frustration by making a cartoon.

Remember the time when PM Modi’s pinstriped suit hit the headlines in 2016 and a few years later, people questioned why Rahul Gandhi wore expensive branded t-shirts during his Bharat Jodo Yatra. Now Acharya is so smart, he connected the two to show that PM Modi’s suit was much more expensive that the paltry ₹41000 Burberry branded white tee.

Because that is how he can show who he is loyal to!

Yet another case of unconditional love for his leader and the t-shirt wearing brave dude was displayed too.

Followers, rather Bhakts, like him were so much in awe that Rahul the great could weather the cold with just that t-shirt on, what a superhero!

All this is to undo those rare weak moments when Satish Acharya and his ilk could have questioned Rahul Gandhi, or did they?

In a cartoon shared 8 years ago, we wonder if Acharya was happy that Rahul Gandhi was elected unopposed as the Congress President as he had his mother’s hand over him.

Instances Where Blind Hate For Narendra Modi Is Exhibited

Here are a few instances where plain hate for the man, our PM Modi resulted in vicious cartoons from the “neutral” satirist.

And how could he let go of the chance to mock the RSS background of our PM. In this cartoon, he has depicted that and also alleged that Modi uses WhatsApp to get his information – the infamous “WhatsApp University” jibe.

Mocking UP CM Yogi Adityanath

In January 2022, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that the upcoming state elections would be an “80% versus 20%” contest, claiming that 80% of voters support BJP’s agenda of nationalism, good governance, and development, while 20% are habitual opponents. The Opposition, including Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), alleged that the remark was a communal dog whistle targeting Muslims, who make up around 20% of the state’s population. They accused Adityanath and the BJP of stoking religious divisions for electoral gain just before the model code of conduct was enforced.

Acharya had to make a cartoon on this where he claimed 80% comprised of the rich and 20%, the poor! Creativity ka bhi seema hoti hai!

Claimed UP CM Yogi Adityanath was painting the entire state saffron after news was reported that the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister was having government buildings across the state painted in saffron—particularly targeting sections that were previously green. Notable examples include state transport buses, the Haj office, and even the Chief Minister’s own office.

Mocking Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Death

When former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away, Acharya came up with a cartoon which seemed to use the moment to glorify Nehru instead. Viewers found it either a veiled jibe at the BJP or a confusing tribute, with Acharya later offering an explanation. The cartoon allegedly referenced Nehru’s old remark predicting Vajpayee’s future as PM, leading to interpretations that Vajpayee owed his rise to Nehru.

Critics slammed it as either a veiled jab at the BJP or an unclear tribute lacking sensitivity. The cartoonist had to issue an explanation clarifying his intent—which many found to be condescending.

The backlash raised questions not just about bias, but also about the cartoon’s taste, timing, and overall quality.

Congress Censorship And Acharya’s Complicity

In 2016, Congress pressured Acharya to remove the below cartoon critiquing then-Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Rahul Gandhi. 

After municipal authorities — allegedly at Congress’s behest — forced him to withdraw the cartoon from public hoardings, Acharya tweeted, “This skeleton says a lot about Congress’s priorities” but stopped short of direct criticism.

Bengaluru Stampede Following RCB Win

For all the cartoons he has made on stampedes before, especially the Kumbh Mela one where he pointed directly to UP CM Yogi Adityanath, one would assume Acharya would probably question the Congress government for their shoddy crowd management. But what did Acharya do? He came up with words instead of art. He wrote on his X handle following the stampede that killed over 11 people injuring more than 50 – “The govt should’ve anticipated this madness looking at last night’s frenzy and should’ve made proper arrangements or suggested a different date for the parade. Totally irresponsible! Sad to see so many innocent lives lost.”

After backlash, he came up with a cartoon that did not blame the Congress government but seemed to blame RCB.

When people started reminding him in the comments about how he blamed Yogi Adityanath for the Kumbh Mela stampede, he came up with a few more.

In a cartoon for TNM wannabe South First, probably because he was asked by the editors, he brought the political establishment into the picture.

Acharya did something similar when the need arose to raise questions against the administration in Karnataka. However, these are the times that people like Acharya seem to swallow adhesive and focus on using words. On 19 March 2024, the same cartoonist who voted for progressive Congress and made a positive cartoon on the free electricity freebie was complaining of frequent power cuts. He wrote on his X handle, “ಸನ್ಮಾನ್ಯ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳಾದ ಶ್ರೀ @siddaramaiah ಸರ್, lots of children & youngsters are preparing for exams. And in this part of Karnataka(not sure about other parts), there’s been frequent power cuts. Last Sunday, there was a power cut from 11 am till 7.30 PM. Today, no power for the whole day(Tuesdays are known for regular power cuts, but can’t that be avoided during exam time?) Please remember that most families can’t afford inverter or generator. Please be compassionate towards students.”

Acharya could have very well made a satire on the power cuts in Karnataka. But he chose to use words to “speak” about the problem.

Propaganda Disguised As Art

Acharya’s career reflects a calculated duality: posing as an independent satirist while furthering Congress-aligned narratives. His selective outrage, ideological omissions, and tolerance for Congress censorship reveal a pattern indistinguishable from party propaganda. While he occasionally criticizes Congress to maintain plausible deniability, his work overwhelmingly services a partisan agenda, leveraging satire’s credibility to mask ideological bias.

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The post Satish Acharya, An Overrated Cartoonist Who Is A Two-Bit Congress Propagandist appeared first on The Commune.