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The message, accompanied by a PDF attachment bearing the signature of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sought feedback and suggestions on the Indian government’s schemes and initiatives
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Non-Indian message recipients were left puzzled by their inclusion
In an unexpected turn of events, Indian expatriates and foreign nationals residing in the UAE found their WhatsApp inboxes buzzing with a message from an Indian number, under the name ‘Viksit Bharat Sampark’. The message, accompanied by a PDF attachment bearing the signature of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sought feedback and suggestions on the Indian government’s schemes and initiatives. While some recipients were pleasantly surprised by the unexpected correspondence, others, particularly non-Indians, were left puzzled by their inclusion.
According to a report by Khaleej Times, the diverse group of recipients, including Emiratis, Britons, and Pakistanis, expressed a range of reactions to the unsolicited message. Asma Zain, a Dubai-based Pakistani journalist, voiced her confusion, questioning the relevance of her input to Indian affairs. Similarly, Fahad Siddiqui, another Pakistani resident, described the situation as “very strange”.
Even British residents, such as one individual who recently visited India for work, initially assumed the message was related to their professional engagements. The mystery surrounding the source of their contact information left many recipients wondering about the potential breach of their privacy.
However, the controversy surrounding the message extended beyond the confines of the UAE, with opposition parties back in India condemning the BJP’s outreach efforts. The Congress party, in particular, labeled the attached PDF as “political propaganda”, accusing Prime Minister Modi of misusing government resources for partisan gain.
Social media platforms became battlegrounds for political discourse, with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale highlighting concerns over the misuse of government machinery for political purposes. Tharoor shared screenshots of objections raised by UAE-based consultant Anthony J Permal, calling for action from the Election Commission of India. Gokhale questioned the legality of the campaign, demanding accountability from Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Furthermore, the Kerala Congress directed its scrutiny towards Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, questioning the platform’s policy on political campaigns. Accusing WhatsApp of facilitating political propaganda despite its stated policies, the party raised doubts about preferential treatment towards the BJP.
As the controversy continues to unfold, the incident underscores broader concerns regarding privacy, digital communication ethics, and the intersection of politics with technology on a global scale.
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