While BJP continues to rule the roost on social media, unlike pre-2014, other parties like Congress and AAP have also created a space for themselves on social media with dedicated volunteers supporting and defending their respective parties on various issues. In recent times, AAP social media volunteers especially have had to work hard because of party’s poor performance in Punjab/Goa state assembly elections and Delhi MCD elections. In the latest fiasco, a person called Ankit Bhardwaj, who claims to be a AAP party worker, reportedly attacked Kapil Mishra. The attack happened at the place where Kapil Mishra has started an indefinite fast for protesting against the alleged corruption of AAP leaders.
Soon after the attack, many prominent AAP social media volunteers started alleging that one Ankit Bhardwaj who is associated with Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha which is BJP’s youth wing was responsible for the attack and that he’s portraying himself to be an AAP volunteer.
Even the official Aam Aadmi Party Twitter handle put out a video alleging the same, they have now deleted this tweet, but we managed to get a screenshot.
The video which has now been deleted can be seen here:
Arvind Kejriwal also retweeted this allegation via his Twitter account, the tweet by twitter handle @DaarubazMehta has now been deleted.
As it turns out, the Ankit Bhardwaj who is associated with BJYM was not responsible for the attack and he’s clarified the same on his Facebook timeline.
He has also stated the same before media channels that he wasn’t the one who attacked Kapil Mishra and that he’s being unnecessarily defamed.
Statement of BJYM worker ANKIT BHARDWAJ to a TV Channel just now given at 14 Pant Marg who is being mis-accused of attack on Kapil Mishra. pic.twitter.com/hzkePR2NsY
— impreet singh bakshi (@impreetsbakshi) May 10, 2017
In this constant political battle between different parties on social media parties, truth often becomes the first casualty.
Independent journalism that speaks truth to power and is free of corporate and political control is possible only when people start contributing towards the same. Please consider donating towards this endeavour to fight fake news and misinformation.