Ahmed Patel urges Cong cadres to fight 'Goebbels Propaganda'

In an apparent reference to the ruling BJP at the Centre as well as in Gujarat, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel today asked the party cadres to use social media as a weapon to fight "Goebbels Propaganda."

The term 'Goebbels Propaganda' was coined after the name of German politician Paul Joseph Goebbels who was the Reich Minister of Propaganda of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945 and was known for his skills in public speaking.

While addressing a seminar of party's IT cell here, Patel, who is the political secretary to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has changed various parameters for determining GDP to hide its failures.
 

"The social media is not a tool to exploit technology. Some persons use this medium to acquire power and then try to retain it by various marketing tools and spreading lies. Some people are only exploiting social media in a wrong manner," said Patel.

"I urge IT cell workers to use social media in a positive manner to defeat those who are into spreading Goebbels Propaganda. Along with strengthening the party, we should also spread message of harmony and national integration," said Patel.

Taking a dig at Modi, Patel said the Centre is now trying to change parameters for determining the unemployment rate in the country.

"The government failed on many fronts. Thus, they have started changing the goal posts. Earlier, they changed parameters for determining the GDP.

"Now, they are changing parameters for unemployment, so that we can not compare the current status with the track record of previous governments," he alleged.

"He (Modi) did the same when he was in Gujarat (as chief minister). It is his old tactic to hide failures," said Patel, who was accompanied by Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki and several other party leaders.

In his address, Solanki took a jibe at poll strategist Prashant Kishor, by claiming that IT cell members of the party are more competent than him.

"As polls are approaching in Gujarat, some said that PK, that is Prashant Kishor, is coming here. Then some said he is not. But, I feel that you are far more competent than PK," said Solanki in his address to the social media team.

Solanki's views are in a total contradiction of those expressed by another party leader Shankersinh Vaghela, who had favoured Kishor and advised his party to hire him for the upcoming assembly polls in Gujarat.

In March, Vaghela, who is the leader of opposition in the Gujarat assembly, had opined that the party should consider hiring services of Kishor, as he can ensure victory for Congress in Gujarat.