Operation Fake News

The government’s cyber security and fake news detection units have their hands full. There has been a flood of AI-generated fakes targeting the Indian armed forces with one purportedly showing the new Army chief criticising the government for ‘hiding’ deaths of armed forces personnel during Operation Sindoor. The obvious improbability of such a statement made the video immediately suspect but the morphing and audio was worrying. The heads of the government’s media arms that deal with traditional print and TV, social media and digital platforms now meet on a regular basis to share information and examine trends. Most of the fakes seeking to spread misinformation about Indian armed forces are traced to Pakistan.

There is also a concerted bid to whip up social discontent by exaggerated claims with regard to incidents like the theft of donations at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The propensity of such reports to spark violence is worrying government agencies. The government releases an annual Digital Threat Report and this year, it will have a focus on AI-led threats. Apart from fake news, banking institutions and payment systems face a high number of attacks. Incidentally, Operation Sindoor validated capacities of Indian agencies like CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) and this has led to increased support in terms of technical and human resources.

A Gowda Story

Since he took charge as Bengaluru development minister, Krishna Byre Gowda’s visible urgency and frustration over administrative failures and poor accountability appear to resonate with citizens long dissatisfied with civic governance. Though the other Gowda— Chief Minister DK Shivakumar—has tied his hands by retaining the Bengaluru Development Agency (BDA) portfolio, Krishna Byre Gowda is working on a “Bengaluru model” of urban governance. As things stand, even a curtailed portfolio does not sit well with the chief minister amid an increasingly public feud.

Wrong Track

All talk of “Track 2” contacts with Pakistan were snuffed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s strong dismissal of a reported engagement in Colombo as a talk shop. Though the government recently blessed a visit by a delegation of experts to China, it has drawn a red line on Pakistan. The release of a list of 23 Pakistan-based individuals tagged as “terrorists” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act put a lid on any lingering speculation. Any conversation with Pakistan is presaged on Islamabad’s preparedness to act against terrorism, and nothing else.

Vijay Means Business

The investigation launched by the Tamil Nadu police into alleged bids to influence the ruling TVK legislators is an early indication that the new regime is not going to take kindly to any attempt to weaken it. Chief Minister Joseph Vijay should not be underestimated. When DMK leader Anitha Radhakrishnan allegedly made derogatory comments about Vijay, straying into personal territory, his arrest was another reminder that DMK is no longer in office. Speaking in the new Assembly, Vijay rubbed the point home asking Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi about the whereabouts of his father MK Stalin, a far from subtle reminder of the DMK leader’s failure to get elected.

Better Days in Bastar

After wiping out much of the Maoist leadership in Bastar, the Centre and Chhattisgarh are planning a development push there. The focus is on building a well-supplied security network that will make it impossible for Left extremists to regain control, and allowing rebuilding of schools and making state scholarships available to students under the chief minister’s “Good Governance” to convey a message of inclusivity and immediate change.

Who Wins in Punjab?

Congress’ problems in Punjab emerged afresh with former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi becoming the rallying point for discontent over the party’s decision to continue with Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Warring as state chief. Meanwhile, AAP faces strong incumbency and SAD is not doing well either. The churn is hard to read as BJP fancies its prospects too.

Subianto’s Move

In 2014, the election of popular leaders like Narendra Modi in India and Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in Indonesia saw the emergence of a new set of front-ranking public figures. Though unelected, the elevation of Xi Jinping in China, too, was seen as another instance of a decisive leader coming to the fore. But 12 years down the line, it is Modi and Jokowi’s successor Prabowo Subianto who have fast-tracked bilateral ties with the sale of BrahMos cruise missiles and Astra airto-air missiles to Jakarta. The shared concerns over China, though unspoken, are obvious.