‘Many of the young YouTuber’s videos have clocked tens of millions of views on various social media platforms’
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — A series of videos by popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has exposed the authoritarian policies adopted by the government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The videos are also severely critical of the political agenda of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Although Rathee, who has 19 million subscribers on YouTube, uploads videos on various topics such as history, education, geopolitics, social issues, and current affairs, his videos on the political agenda of the BJP are creating a lot of buzz. The videos, based on facts and news reports gleaned from authentic sources, are being shared on different social media platforms.
A video which has recently triggered a lot of reaction in both political and apolitical circles alike is on the country’s slide towards dictatorship. The video “Is India Becoming a Dictatorship? Chandigarh Elections | Farmer Protest” uploaded on YouTube two months ago has received 25 million views on different social media platforms.
In the description of the video, the YouTuber writes: “We scrutinise the growing concerns around the ‘One Nation, One Party’ ideology and its implications on democratic principles under Narendra Modi’s leadership and the BJP’s strategies. From the fervent devotion of Modi’s supporters to critical issues like media suppression, MLA horse-trading, and the misuse of enforcement agencies against the opposition, we uncover the challenges facing India’s democratic fabric”.
The description further highlights the importance of public involvement and the role of opposition in a vibrant democracy. “Our discussion reveals the urgent need for political engagement and accountability. This video is an essential watch for those looking to understand the complex interplay between governance, citizen rights, and the enduring spirit of democracy in the face of adversity. Join us in this compelling video on safeguarding democratic values in India,” it says.
In the approximately 30-minute video, Rathee points out that the holding of elections cannot be called only proof of a functioning democracy. The elections are held in North Korea and Russia. But their elections are not free and fair, he says.
“Only conducting elections doesn’t mean that the country is democratic but the elections need to be free and fair,” says Rathee.
He asserts that free and fair elections, free media, space for opposition and critics, independent institutions and judiciary and freedom of expression and protest are the necessary components of a functioning democracy.
Talking about dictatorship under the Modi government, the YouTuber mentions the absence of an opposition voice in the media, horse-trading by the ruling party, undue interference and snatching of powers of elected state governments, the weaponisation of investigative agencies against opposition leaders and their arrests, crackdown on people for protesting against the government, use of electoral bonds for cornering all donations and winning the election through fraud.
The first example given by Rathee to illustrate the declining democracy in India is the victory of the BJP candidate in the Chandigarh Municipal elections through the fraud committed by the presiding officer. In this election, the BJP candidate won because the presiding officer had rendered the votes cast by the INDIA alliance as invalid. The incident was caught on camera and the Supreme Court called it a “murder of democracy”.
Rathee also questions the Election Commission for failing to conduct free and fair elections. He points out that the commission did not take action against Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath when they sought votes in the name of the Indian army during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
He also questions the independence of the Election Commission after the Central government brought in an act on the appointment of the election commissioner. The Supreme Court had directed that the election commissioner be elected by a committee comprising the prime minister, the leader of the opposition and the Chief Justice of India (CJI). However, the act threw out the CJI from the committee and replaced him with a minister from the government.
Rathee says if the BJP’s intention were pure, there was no need to bring the law. “Why does the government want to control the Election Commission?
The YouTuber also brings up the issue of misuse of central agencies. He points out that the ED filed almost all cases against opposition leaders in which there is a 0.5% conviction rate. “On the other hand, if an opposition leader facing corruption charges joins the BJP, charges against him are dropped. He becomes clean.” He mentions the cases of Himanta Biswa Sarma, Ajit Pawar, Narayan Rane, B.S. Yediyurappa, and others who joined the BJP after corruption allegations surfaced against them. Opposition leaders unwilling to toe the BJP line are targeted through investigative agencies, he says mentioning the names of Delhi ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain, Shiv Sena (Udhav) leader Sanjay Raut and others who were jailed after being accused of corruption.
Another issue raised by Rathi in the video is about the interference of the Central government in the functioning of state governments ruled by anti-BJP parties. The governments in Delhi, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala have accused governors in their states of hampering their work at the behest of the Centre.
He also highlights the role of the media which gives one-sided coverage to the ruling party, the government and Prime Minister Modi while offering no space to the opposition parties.
He also argues that majoritarianism cannot be called democracy. Majoritarianism leaves its wrong impact on society and curtails the rights of those with different faiths, lifestyles, cultures, and languages.
In another video on the country’s slide towards dictatorship, Rathee cites the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the freezing of Congress’ bank accounts. The 23-minute video titled “Arvind Kejriwal Jailed| Dictatorship Confirmed?” was uploaded four weeks ago.
In the video, Rathee asserts that Kejriwal was jailed on flimsy grounds. “The liquor scam accused, whose company donated huge sums of money to the BJP, was presented as a witness in the case to arrest the chief minister,” he said.
