BJP Slams Congress for Supporting NewsClick Amid Chinese Funding Revelations

India’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing them and other parties of backing the NewsClick platform during central agencies’ investigations. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) joined the criticism, highlighting Chinese funding to NewsClick aimed at spreading Beijing’s propaganda.

During a press conference in the national capital, Thakur further alleged that China had signed an agreement with the Congress party, and payments were made to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation during the UPA regime.

A recent report by The New York Times shed light on Neville Roy Singham, identified as a socialist benefactor of far-left causes, who is deeply involved with the Chinese government’s media machine and financing Chinese propaganda worldwide.

Read Also: Investigation Reveals Lavishly Funded Network Pushing Chinese Propaganda Globally – epardafas.com

Thakur stated, “Congress, China, and NewsClick are all part of an umbilical cord. Chinese products are clearly visible in Rahul Gandhi’s fake ‘Mohabbat ki Dukaan,’ showcasing his love for China and running an ‘anti-India’ and ‘Break India’ agenda.”

He further revealed that Neville Roy Singham funded NewsClick and was himself funded by China, with direct links to the Chinese propaganda party’s arm. Opposition parties, including Congress, supported NewsClick when the BJP-led Centre took action against the platform for using foreign propaganda against India and spreading misleading information.

Thakur emphasized that the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate, which were once considered “caged parrots” during the UPA rule, now take action against platforms like NewsClick under the BJP’s governance.

The BJP leader also alleged that during the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the Congress party signed an agreement with China, leading to payments being made to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. Thakur questioned the Opposition bloc about their support for NewsClick’s anti-India agenda and demanded answers regarding the spending of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation’s funds and the high-level meetings with China.

The New York Times report highlighted China’s efforts, under President Xi Jinping, to expand state media operations, collaborate with foreign outlets, and cultivate foreign influencers to disseminate propaganda disguised as independent content.

Neville Roy Singham’s groups, mentioned in the report, have produced YouTube videos with millions of views, aimed at influencing real-world politics through various means. These efforts include meeting with congressional aides, training lawmakers in Africa, participating in South African polls, and organizing protests, such as the one in London that turned violent.