BJP MLA accuses Muslim journalists of ‘media jihad’ in latest instance of Hindutva rhetoric
Lucknow: In yet another instance of escalating Hindu right-wing rhetoric, a BJP MLA from Uttar Pradesh has released a list of Muslim journalists accusing them of ‘media jihad’ and coordinating to spread lies.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Dr. Shalabh Mani Tripathi, a journalist-turned-Hindutva politician and media advisor to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, shared the names of 32 Muslim journalists on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, along with the media organizations they are affiliated with.
The list includes prominent media outlets such as NDTV, News18, Dainik Bhaskar, Amar Ujala, and Republic TV, among others.
Tripathi alleged that these journalists, covering the recent by-elections in Uttar Pradesh, were spreading misinformation through edited videos and pictures.
This post comes after Uttar Pradesh authorities came under fire for the biased conduct of by-polls preventing Muslim voters from casting votes in Muzaffarnagar, Kanpur, and Moradabad constituencies.
This is not the first time that Tripathi has targeted Muslim journalists. In October, he used his X account to accuse media personnel of spreading lies when a right-wing Hindu mob went on a violent rampage, targeting Muslim properties in a 10km (6.2-mile) radius, ransacking and setting them on fire.
This targeted campaign against Muslim journalists, fueled by social media, exemplifies how Muslim journalists are easy and conspicuous targets of Hindu right-wing propaganda.
