Lok Sabha Election 2024: Opposition takes on Centre over 'Viksit Bharat Sampark' WhatsApp message

Opposition leaders asked Election Commission of India to take action against PM's Viksit Bharat message.

Just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Opposition parties have stepped up their ante against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre, alleging it of violating the model code of conduct by sending a ‘Viksit Bharat Sampark’ message on WhatsApp.

Through a message on WhatsApp, the Centre has sought feedback and suggestions from citizens of India regarding its welfare schemes and governance initiatives, along with a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Not only in India, but people in different countries have also received the message and questioned how the government got their numbers.

Taking note of these messages, Trinamool Congress in West Bengal has written to the state’s chief electoral officer and asked for the issuance of appropriate directions to withdraw the letter sent to people from March 15.

“By using the office of the Prime Minister, the BJP has issued the letter at the cost of the public exchequer under the guise of a message seemingly sent by the Government of India. Such mass circulation is nothing but an appeal to the voters in favor of the BJP and Mr. Modi, thereby flouting the mandate of the Election Commission of India issued through the Model Code of Conduct,” reads the TMC letter.

Echoing a similar sentiment, Congress’ Anandpur Sahib MP in the Lok Sabha, Manish Tewari, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “This unsolicited WhatsApp message came at 12.09 AM today. It seems to be from @GoI_MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology). Is this not a blatant violation of both the Model Code of Conduct & Right to Privacy?”

In addition to this, another senior Congress leader, Shashi Tharoor, said, “Will the ECISVEEP (Election Commission of India) take note of such a blatant misuse of government machinery and government data to serve the partisan political interests of the ruling party?”

He also shared screenshots of people in different countries with a UAE-based consultant, Anthony J Permal, who accused the Indian government of breaching their privacy.

“It was received by thousands of non-Indians on their private mobile numbers. How did the BJP and Indian government get a hold of our numbers? And how can it just blatantly spam non-Indians in the thousands? So much for an ethical government,” Anthony wrote on his social media account.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term at the Centre, and BJP has set a target of winning over 370 seats. The Centre’s development agenda and the promise of a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) by 2047 are key poll planks of the BJP.