“History will be kinder to me than the contemporary media.”
— Dr. Manmohan Singh
The defamation campaign against former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh by the RSS-BJP ecosystem was not accidental — it was a meticulously orchestrated operation. By combining manufactured outrage, institutional manipulation, and media theatrics, they turned a quiet reformer into a scapegoat, clearing the path for their own political takeover.
Here’s how that machinery worked:
1. 🧾 The Role of Vinod Rai: Manufacturing the “Scam Narrative”
- The CAG’s Presumptive Fiction:
Under Vinod Rai, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) alleged massive “presumptive losses” — ₹1.76 lakh crore in the 2G spectrum case and ₹1.86 lakh crore in coal block allocations. These were later debunked in court, with all accused acquitted due to lack of evidence. - Media Leaks & Perception Building:
Rai’s selective leaks to the media created a storm of public outrage, designed not to secure justice but to damage the clean image of Dr. Singh and his government.
2. 🎭 Anna Hazare Movement: The “Nautanki” That Set the Stage
- RSS Infiltration in Disguise:
The “India Against Corruption” (IAC) movement — with its optics of neutrality — was infiltrated and backed by RSS cadres, who used it to wage war only against the UPA government. - Kejriwal, Bedi & the Trojan Horse:
Figures like Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi built their careers by riding this wave — only to later either align with or enable BJP’s rise. - Media Frenzy:
“Godi media” gave 24/7 coverage to Hazare’s fasts, glorifying the movement while ignoring BJP’s own corruption in Gujarat, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh.
3. 📺 Godi Media: Propaganda by Design
- Selective Outrage:
Channels like Times Now, Zee News, and later Republic TV demonized the UPA, often turning minor controversies into “breaking scams.” - Branding Dr. Singh:
Despite his achievements, he was mocked as “Maun-Mohan” and projected as weak, while Modi was marketed as a “56-inch chested savior.”
Setting the Narrative: Palki Sharma’s Mahabharat Analogy
Palki Sharma, in a telling moment, explains how controlling the narrative allows one to appear virtuous despite unethical actions — much like the Pandavas in the Mahabharat. She openly admits that her role as a journalist is to “set the narrative”, highlighting how media can shape public perception, not necessarily truth. This reflects the dangerous power of narrative warfare — where ethics are secondary to image-building. This “admission” reveals a troubling reality: when media controls the story, truth becomes optional and morality becomes malleable. It’s not about what happened — it’s about who controls how it’s told.
4. 📱 Social Media Armies: Trolls, Lies, and Virality
- WhatsApp Factories:
BJP’s IT Cell mass-produced memes, fake videos, and half-truths — demonizing the Congress and Dr. Singh while spreading false promises of Modi’s miraculous capabilities. - Narrative Engineering:
Topics like “bringing back black money,” “10 million jobs,” or “₹15 lakh in accounts” were churned out as bait — none materialized.
5. 🕉️ Hindutva Agenda: From Fringe to Mainstream
- Failed Experiments:
Attempts to push polarizing Hindutva faces like Pragya Thakur failed initially. - Modi as the Mask:
The RSS rebranded itself using Modi’s Gujarat model — a myth built on doctored development statistics — to hide their theocratic ambitions behind economic promises.
6. 💰 Adani-Ambani: From Villains to VIPs
- The Rise of Cronyism:
Once in power, BJP rewarded the very corporates they had pretended to oppose. Adani’s rise became synonymous with BJP rule: ports, airports, coal, and agri — all handed over. - Monopoly & Misdirection:
While Ambani’s Jio reshaped the telecom sector, the government looked the other way, ensuring no real competition or regulation interfered. - Broken Promises:
From Rafale to PM-CARES to electoral bonds — real corruption went unquestioned under BJP’s shield.
7. 🔇 Silencing Dissent: The Price of Speaking Up
- Institutions as Weapons:
ED, CBI, and Income Tax raids were unleashed against those who opposed Modi, including Congress leaders, civil rights activists, and journalists. - Muzzling the Press:
Independent voices like NDTV were harassed or bought out. In their place rose a pliant, cheerleading media ecosystem.
🧠 The Legacy They Tried to Erase
Dr. Manmohan Singh’s quiet leadership oversaw:
- The RTI Act
- MNREGA
- The Nuclear Deal
- Aadhaar (original vision)
- Record-breaking GDP growth
- Global financial respect
- Social welfare expansion
He was a man of integrity, dignity, and intellect — not a demagogue or a Twitter trend.
⚠️ The Real Cost of Propaganda
What we lost was not just a government — but a model of governance based on quiet reform and democratic institutions. What replaced it is a regime thriving on polarisation, propaganda, and plutocracy.
It’s time to expose the myth, and reclaim the truth.
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