'Israeli Agency's Help Being Taken To Influence Democracy': Congress Attacks BJP Over 'Team Jorge' Expose

Congress attacked the BJP over a report that claimed an Israeli team of contractors had interfered with more than 30 elections around the world, including India.

Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh at a press conference ( Image Source :PTI )

A day after a report released by a consortium of international journalists claimed an Israeli team of contractors had interfered with more than 30 elections around the world, including India, Congress asked the BJP-led government to break its silence on the matter and demanded a probe.

Addressing a press conference, Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that India's democracy was being "hijacked" by the country's ruling party.

"An Israeli agency's help is being taken to influence the country's democracy. Sitting in India, they are conspiring against India's democracy along with other countries," PTI quoted Khera as saying.

READ | Israeli Contractors Linked To Fake Social Media Campaigns In 20 Countries, Including India: Report

The consortium of journalists, including reporters from outlets like 'The Guardian' in the UK, claimed that a so-called "Team Jorge" led by Tal Hanan, a 50-year-old former Israeli special forces operative who works privately using the pseudonym "Jorge", was behind "fake social media campaigns" in countries such as the UK, US, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Mexico, Senegal, India, and the United Arab Emirates.

The investigative report claimed the team was working under the radar in elections in various countries for more than two decades.

The team allegedly offers a software package named Advanced Impact Media Solutions (AIMS) to its clients as one of its services through which it covertly meddles in elections by operating fake social media campaigns.

Recalling allegations of the Modi government using Cambridge Analytica (CA) and then Pegasus to meddle in the country's political system, Khera questioned if the BJP was using a network of foreign hackers to interfere in Indian elections.

"Is there a link between Post Card News and Team Jorge -- a team of Israeli contractors who claim to have manipulated more than 30 elections around the world using hacking, sabotage and automated disinformation on social media?" he asked.

"The pattern of disinformation and fake news campaigns being adopted by the Israelis is mirrored by the ruling BJP very distinctly," the Congress leader further said. 

Khera alleged that the BJP used "fake news" to repeatedly target the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra in the last four-five months but was caught.

"Will the Modi government investigate the latest scandal that has hit the Indian political spectrum, involving yet again foreign contractors indulging in sophisticated hacking, sabotage and automated disinformation on social media?" he asked.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate alleged that the data of Indians was being compromised and drew similarities between "Team Jorge" and the IT cell of BJP in dispersing "fake news" to influence the country's electoral process.

"We have seen a pattern in India. We want the government to break its silence and say what has been its contribution in saving democracy in the country," Shrinate said.

"This impacts India's electoral process directly and there should be a probe," she further said.

(With inputs from PTI and agencies)