The Rise of Social Media and the Fall of the Muslim Minority in India: The Case of WhatsApp
Keywords:
Anti-Muslim Propaganda, WhatsApp, Religious Sentiment, Electoral Politics, Right-Wing NationalismAbstract
This study aims to establish how WhatsApp usage has shifted people’s perception of the BJP and India’s political strategy since 2014. From interviews with Academicians and students of Delhi, it can be pointed out that through the application of WhatsApp, false information and hate speech are shared, especially regarding Muslims and the support of Hindu nationalism. Many students unknowingly participate in spreading propaganda when they still hold these lies to be true. Moreover, all the analysts’ opinions indicate that WhatsApp is a perfect platform for sharing false news that can harm the party among voters. Thus, due to the WhatsApp tales, the work shows that there remains a dualism between ideologies on the right and secular ones. Lastly, the objective of this study is to have an understanding of how WhatsApp affects politics and the Hindunization of Muslims and continues to fuel anti-Muslim sentiments in order to suit the political lingua of the BJP.