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Raghu Karnad
@rkarnad
, 7 tweets, 4 min read Read on Twitter
We're all talking about PM Modi's popularity as if it's based on a psychic link with the public.
Newsflash: it's based on a publicity / propaganda campaign more expensive than you'll believe.
I lift the lid on the insane numbers:
(2) The principal source for this data (excluding ad spends) is the invaluable Association for Democratic Reforms. Follow: @adrspeaks
For more detailed figures and links to sources, read:
thewire.in/politics/bjp-m…
(3) The video does not even cover government spending (as opposed to party spending). By October 2018 / in four and a half years, the Modi govt had spent nearly Rs 5,000 crores on ads, as much as the MMS govt spent over ten years.
thewire.in/government/mod…
(4) For a deeper dig, @divyaguha explores the practical implications of political funding and quid pro quo in India, with some inputs from @Milav. (Her piece is where I first encountered the ADR data on party incomes.)
thewire.in/political-econ…
(5) Reuters quotes a @INCIndia official saying that 'the BJP had the funds to reserve most of India’s fleet of helicopters for hire for 90 days.'

Related story – an IAS officer was suspended for acting on a tip that Modi's chopper was carrying cash:
thewire.in/government/ec-…
(6) Just in: RTI reveals that Rs 3,622 crore worth – *half a billion dollars* – of #ElectoralBonds were issued in March and April.
In FY 2017-'18, 98% of the value of all electoral bonds went to the BJP. All anonymous, nearly all in huge denominations.
(6) To put this in perspective, the Big Five tech firms – Amazon, Apple, Fbook, Google, Microsoft – have spent just over half a billion dollars in lobbying the US Congress over 13 years (Forbes: tinyurl.com/y3lbatmh).

This is anonymous pol donations in India over *two months*
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Raghu Karnad
@rkarnad
#NanajiDeshmukh, who today was awarded the #BharatRatna, was a pivotal opposition figure in the Emergency years, and in all three episodes I've recently explored – the 'subversive' protests (1975), the 'anti-national' resistance abroad ('76) & the 'unholy alliance' ('77). Thread.
(2) In late '74, JP's 'sampoorna kranti' agitation was gaining momentum in Patna, led mainly by students. On Nov 4, a massive rally was met with a police lathi-charge. According to legend, Deshmukh protected JP from a blow – which nearly broke his arm.
thewire.in/video/watch-re…
(3) Emergency was declared in '75. Before #NanajiDeshmukh was arrested, in December, he issued an ‘eight-point programme for Indians abroad’, a manual for what would become the overseas anti-Emergency movement – the original "anti-national" lobby.
thewire.in/video/watch-th…
Read 16 tweets
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Raghu Karnad
@rkarnad
In June '75, at the start of the Emergency, LK Advani was put under arrest in Bangalore. He would spend nineteen months in jail there. Here are some excerpts from his writings. No special reason. (Thread)
These are from the pamphlet, 'A Tale of Two Emergencies'.
LK Advani on the role of the press
Read 9 tweets

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SuryaVani
@SuryaVani5
Understanding the Geo-Politics Behind Modi's Win
---------------------------------------------------------

China would not like Modi to come back because Modi means a resurgent and stronger India and another super power in ASia.Only India can challenge the hegemony of CHina &
it was quite visible when Modi didnt back off on Doklam issue.This was the first ever challenge to China from any Asian country,that too a military challenge. The message was loud and clear- India wont bow down any more.
But this step had larger geo political significance.The +
South east asian nations ,which had been bullied by China over territorial and south China sea disputes,saw India as a hope,as the only country in Asia Pacific which can stand the Might of China,Result was improvement in defence and commercial ties with Vietnam,Philippines,Japan.
Read 17 tweets
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Chowkidar Priyanka Joshi
@joshipriyanka_
Narendra Modi. A ray of hope for the youth, the one who has been a saviour for the poor, the one who has never compromised our beloved nation's integrity, the one who has held his office with utmost integrity.
If you still haven't made up your mind, here's something to help you-
An array of schemes have been introduced by PM to provide support in the last 5 years. A few I would like to highlight are as follows-
•PRADHAN MANTRI JAN DHAN YOJNA- A yojna to bring financial inclusion with basic banking services for every household. A RuPay(dr) card is issued
Which has an inbuilt accident insurance cover of Rs. 1,00,000. Even an overdraft facility of Rs.5000 is extended through PMJDY.
(Source: pmindia.gov.in)
•PRADHAN MANTRI JEEVAN JYOTI BIMA YOJANA- A scheme under which insurance cover w.e.f 1st June-31st May for Rs. 2Lakhs
Read 15 tweets
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Madeleine Morris
@remittancegirl
So… a little thread on the way propaganda works.

You know those Brexiters you end up arguing with because they keep repeating things that are fundamentally false? And you keep thinking: how can this person believe this, it makes no logical sense…. #propaganda
Well, most of them don’t believe it either. You are mistaking their ‘speech act’ for communication.

They keep repeating those falsehoods as an act of solidarity with their group, as an act of identification, not as part of discourse. #propaganda
Indeed, the strange thing is that, the more unbelievable or shockingly false the statement, the more it works as a declarative speech act, publicly binding themselves to their ’tribe’. It is as if they prove their loyalty by sacrificing veracity. #propaganda
Read 5 tweets
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Henry Jones
@hthjones
Okay lets do an India/Pakistan update

Pakistan have shot down 2 Indian jets, and have closed all airspace to commercial flights.

The escalation came a one day after the Indian Air Force bombed a "terrorist training camp" inside Pakistan.
Pakistan’s PM @ImranKhanPTI currently addressing the nation:

"We didn't take action earlier without assessing our own damage from Indian airstrikes...Two Indian MiGs that entered Pakistani airspace today after our retaliation were shot down. But where do we go from here?"
In direct breach of the Geneva Convention, an Indian Air Force pilot tied up and filmed by Pakistani captors

Read 165 tweets
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covert_extrovert
@ExtrovertCovert
1) New day's #Q. @realDonaldTrump @WhiteHouse @POTUS
#QAnon drop No. 2856...
#Twitter links re: new narrative; just the beginning (not done).



The #Mueller threat now fizzles. #Mueller's report is being
2) downplayed. We know the corrupt will not go down easily. With no evidence they will create investigations in the attempt to drag the issue out until #Election2020 is near. The Southern District of #NYAg is starting an investigation to, wait 4it, find a crime! #MadMaxine wants
3) 2investigate #POTUS' finances. #Dems are working their #House majority creating investigations, all 4political theatre. It a stall tact which they know will produce zero results. The #Patriots are in full control at the levels which truly count.
#TrustThePlan #lockEmUp [ ! ]
Read 42 tweets
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Sonia Mota
@SoniaKatiMota
Meet #Israel's #Hasbara, which means #Propaganda, MSM Censorship Application👇🤨
This app came out about last year, and it is still on the iTunes store.
The app posts daily missions & TELLS YOU WHAT TO DO AND WHAT TO SAY
#Trolls #Palestine #Gaza #BDS #JeremyCorbyn #JC4PM
6yrs ago #Jerusalem, #IDF Rep:
"we are now located in the SAME building where the Foreign Journalists are,we have close working relationships w/ hundreds of journalists. In addition we launched media project working in many platforms,twitter in Arabic, Russian, French & English."
How #Israel-i Propaganda (#Hasbara) Works: #TheLuntzDocument
If you want to understand how the #propaganda works you need to read the Luntz document -- "The Key," Luntz says, "is the Claim that the Fight is Over Ideology, Not Land. About Terror, & Not Territory."
#Palestine #BDS
Read 35 tweets

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#MelanieNewman #Believe #Microchip #DOJ #AIPAC #Iran #2016Campaign #honesty #Tarmac #innerpeace #Jerusalem #deserve #BlueWave #House #Hussein #LabourParty #DeleteFacebook #SOS #perseverance #RBG #Facebook #Tweet #youtube #SardarVallabhbhaiPatel #respect
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