Pro-Congress and pro-AAP propagandist YouTuber peddler Dhruv Rathee seems to be fixated on Hitler, regularly studying the dictator’s tactics and incorporating them into his videos. Recently, during the crucial election period, Rathee released a video likening Modi to Hitler, drawing parallels between their leadership styles and citing incidents like bomb blasts from Germany to Russia as examples of dictatorship tactics. However, it’s important to note that these comparisons often involve cherry-picked narratives, presenting a selective view of history.
In a two minute video clip Dhruv rathee stated that, “Some politicians are so power hungry that they can go to any extant to continue being in power. History is full of such examples. In 1933, there was a fire in the German parliament (Reichstag). A communist man was blamed for this, at the time, Hitler was the chancellor, but he used this incident to spread fear all over the country and altered the German Constitution. Only one month after this incident, he passed laws where he took away people’s right to disagree or protest. But do you know that later it was found that the people who set fire in the parliament were from Hitler’s Nazi party. This is how dictatorship began in Germany, such incidents are known as False Flag operations. Putin did this too, in 1999, in Russia there were horrible bomb blast at peoples home in it more than 300 people died. Putin was the new Prime Minister in Russia and he pinned the blame of this incident on the separatists. But these incidents are used to spread fear all over the country. To show that there is a danger to the nation from separatists and only Putin can save the country, months later Putin became Russia’s president. Later it was found that the Russian intelligence agencies was behind the Russian bomb blast, the opposition had demanded parliamentary investigations into the blasts, but Putin didn’t let it happen.”
Did you know that a Dictator can go to any extent to keep his power?
– In 1933, Hitler’s Nazi Party set fire to his own parliament building to change the constitution
– In 1999, Putin was allegedly responsible for bomb blasts on his own citizens⚠️This election, Beware of… pic.twitter.com/yoUA3x4ux0
— Dhruv Rathee (@dhruv_rathee) May 1, 2024
Dhruv Rathee’s Cherry-Picked Weimar Constitution
Following the 1918 revolution, the Weimar Constitution, formulated by legal expert and liberal figure Hugo Preuss, superseded the Constitution of the German Empire. This constitutional transition was administered by the German National Assembly in Weimar. Disagreements among delegates arose on various matters, including the national flag, religious education for young people, and the autonomy of the states (Länder). Retaining the bicameral parliamentary structure of prior constitutions, it consisted of the Reichstag, elected through a proportional representation system, and a regionally representative Reichstrat. The Weimar Constitution faced challenges due to factors like the Great Depression, the stringent peace terms of the Treaty of Versailles, and a series of unstable governments, ultimately weakening its authority.
Amid dissatisfaction with the Weimar government, the Nazi Party ascended to power in the 1930s. After several unsuccessful cabinets, President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Adolf Hitler as Chancellor of Germany on 30 January, 1933. Following an arson incident at the Reichstag building in February 1933, attributed to a Dutch Communist, the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act on March 23, granting Hitler sweeping legislative authority. Hitler exploited this newfound power to establish a centralized totalitarian regime. Despite holding three Reichstag elections during Hitler’s tenure, voting lacked anonymity, and candidates were restricted to a single Nazi list alongside “guest candidates.”
Dhruv Rathee has drawn parallels between PM Modi and Adolf Hitler, yet omits significant details about the actions of the Catholic Church and German “liberals.” The Catholic Party, led by Konrad Adenauer, allied with the Nazis in 1933 to amend the constitution, effectively granting Hitler dictatorial powers with the requisite two-thirds majority. Following the war, Adenauer governed Germany from 1949 to 1963, rebranding his party as the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which has since held power for over five decades. Adenauer notably pardoned numerous Nazi war criminals during his tenure, portraying them as “liberals.” Notably, his Chief of Staff, Hans Globke, had aided in drafting the anti-Semitic Nuremberg laws during Hitler’s regime. Similarly, Chancellor Kurt Keisinger, from 1966 to 1969, had ties to the Nazi Ministry of Josef Goebbels, known for propagating anti-Semitic messages. Even socialist leader Helmut Schmidt, who governed from 1974 to 1982, had been affiliated with the Hitler Youth and supported the HIAG organization, formed by ex-members of the Nazi Waffen-SS. Despite these connections to Nazi elements, “liberals” have been quick to criticize the BJP.
Again, Dhruv Rathee implies comparisons between PM Modi and Adolf Hitler
Here is what Rathee has not told you about crimes of the Catholic Church, and German "liberals"
The Catholic Party of Konrad Adenauer voted with the Nazis in 1933 to amend the constitution and make Hitler… pic.twitter.com/fZJ2JvD1oY
— Abhishek (@AbhishBanerj) May 2, 2024
1999 Apartment Bombings in Russia
Dhruv Rathee highlighted the significance of the 1999 bombings in Russia, which tragically claimed the lives of 300 civilians. These events marked a crucial turning point in the nation’s post-Soviet history. While initially attributed to Chechen terrorists, there is currently no concrete evidence linking these bombings to Putin or Russian intelligence agencies. However, the aftermath of these bombings saw a renewed military campaign in Chechnya, contributing to Putin’s rise in popularity and eventual ascension to the presidency.
Efforts made to uncover the truth, including Freedom of Information Act requests filed with U.S. government agencies, claims significant evidence suggesting Russian government complicity in the bombings. Despite claiming evidence, successive U.S. administrations opted to ignore or downplay these findings.
Some of Dhruv Rathee’s repeatedly caught false information and baseless claims
Dhruv Rathee has been repeatedly caught spreading false information and baseless claims, tarnishing India’s democracy and credibility. In one instance, he falsely asserted that India was veering towards a dictatorial regime, insinuating parallels with North Korea and Russia’s election dynamics. However, this claim was debunked by various social media influencers and The Print, citing examples like the Modi government’s adherence to Supreme Court decisions regarding significant matters like the Ram Mandir. Additionally, Rathee’s video contained a distorted map of India, leading to its blocking by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Similarly, Rathee has misrepresented data from the World Happiness Report, claiming Pakistan to be happier than India, a claim refuted by the report’s methodology, which relies on individuals’ assessments of their own lives. He has also faced scrutiny from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights for allegedly threatening a minor on social media, prompting an inquiry.
Furthermore, Rathee has distorted historical facts, falsely claiming that India’s partition wasn’t based on religion, and has made erroneous statements regarding BJP-ruled states’ aid to flood-hit Kerala. His false allegations, like accusing the BJP IT Cell of bribery, have led to police complaints against him and individuals like Arvind Kejriwal. Even Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal admitted to mistakenly retweeting a defamatory video circulated by Rathee in 2018.
In conclusion, Dhruv Rathee has been found to manipulate facts and spread one-sided narratives, especially targeting the central government and BJP, while censoring positive aspects of the NDA government.
In the recent Supreme Court hearing, Kejriwal’s admission of wrongdoing highlights the contentious nature of sharing Rathee’s content. It underscores broader concerns about the veracity and impartiality of Rathee’s narratives, which often seem one-sided and partisan, targeting the central government and BJP states while ignoring other political entities. This pattern suggests a deliberate effort to manipulate facts rather than present a balanced view.