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BRS Accuses Telangana CMO of Running “Misinformation Network” Against Opposition
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has leveled serious accusations against the Telangana Chief Minister’s Office, claiming it operates an “elaborate misinformation and fake propaganda network” specifically targeting BRS leadership, including former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao and working president KT Rama Rao.
In a strongly-worded press release issued Wednesday, the opposition party alleged that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has been systematically misusing government resources to manage a coordinated network of social media accounts and websites dedicated to spreading false information and defamatory content about BRS leaders.
The party claims to have obtained “clinching evidence” through a whistleblower reportedly working within the Chief Minister’s core team. According to BRS, this evidence reveals an extensive operation spanning multiple social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and various websites used to publish and circulate what they describe as fabricated news intended to damage the reputation of opposition figures.
“What is deeply disturbing is that officials working directly under the Chief Minister are allegedly involved in creating and distributing defamatory content,” a party spokesperson said. The BRS further alleged that the campaign has gone beyond political criticism to target women unrelated to politics in an attempt to smear party leaders.
At the center of BRS’s allegations are purported conversations from a WhatsApp group titled “TelanganaRising Top Communications Group,” which they claim is operated directly from the CMO. The party has cited screenshots from this group that allegedly demonstrate coordination of anti-BRS messaging campaigns using government resources.
The opposition party specifically named several officials in their complaint, including the CM’s Public Relations Officer Anvesh Reddy, Director of Media and Communications Sriram Karri, and Congress social media chairman Satish Manne, accusing them of jointly managing the alleged operation. BRS claims that “crores of rupees” in public funds have been diverted to finance these activities.
Adding to their accusations, BRS alleged that teams involved in these social media operations are working from government facilities, including the Telangana State Technology Services office opposite the State Assembly and the Hyderabad Growth Corridor office in Nanakramguda.
The allegations come amid ongoing political tensions in Telangana, where the Congress government, led by Revanth Reddy, took power in December 2023, ending BRS’s decade-long rule in the state. Since then, relations between the two parties have remained strained, with each accusing the other of various improprieties.
BRS has called for immediate action, urging the Telangana Chief Secretary to suspend all officials allegedly involved in the WhatsApp group and to remove them from government offices. The party has also appealed to the Director General of Police to file criminal cases against officials accused of misappropriating public funds and against those operating the alleged propaganda platforms.
“It is shameful that the highest government office in the state has allegedly become a hub for a social media mafia targeting opposition parties and engaging in character assassination of women,” the BRS statement read.
The opposition party has further demanded the establishment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar to investigate what they describe as a misinformation network operating directly from the Chief Minister’s Office.
The Congress government has yet to respond officially to these allegations. Political observers note that this controversy adds to the increasingly polarized political environment in Telangana, where both parties have been engaged in a war of words since the change in government.
The accusations come while several BRS leaders, including KT Rama Rao, have recently been questioned by authorities in an ongoing phone tapping investigation initiated by the current government.
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9 Comments
Very concerning allegations. If true, this would be a major abuse of government resources and power. I hope the authorities investigate thoroughly and take appropriate action if wrongdoing is uncovered.
This situation highlights the challenges of maintaining truth and integrity in the digital age. I hope the proposed SIT investigation can provide clarity and lead to appropriate actions, if wrongdoing is confirmed.
The ‘misinformation mafia’ claim is a serious allegation. Both sides should present clear evidence to support their positions. Transparency and independent investigation are crucial in such matters.
I agree, unbiased scrutiny is needed to get to the bottom of this. Resorting to misinformation and propaganda harms democracy, regardless of which side is responsible.
This is a complex political issue with accusations flying back and forth. I’m curious to see what an independent investigation uncovers. Transparency and accountability should be the priority.
The BRS party’s claims of a ‘misinformation mafia’ within the Telangana CMO are serious. I hope the authorities take these allegations seriously and conduct a rigorous, unbiased probe.
Agreed. Misusing government resources for political smear campaigns is a dangerous precedent. The truth needs to come to light, regardless of which party is responsible.
Allegations of government-backed disinformation campaigns are always concerning. I hope the proposed SIT investigation can shed light on the facts and determine if any wrongdoing occurred.
If the BRS party’s claims are accurate, this is a troubling abuse of power. However, I would caution against rushing to judgment without a thorough, impartial investigation. These allegations deserve close examination.