Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense Crime, Digital Desk : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly refuted circulating claims that two retired military officers, recently highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would become prominent faces in the party's upcoming election campaigns. Amit Malviya, who heads the BJP's IT cell, categorically dismissed these speculations as "fake news" on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The rumors gained traction after Prime Minister Modi shared video interviews of Colonel Anil Qureshi (Retd.) and Wing Commander Vyomika Manhas (Retd.) on his personal X account. In his posts, the Prime Minister commended their insights and encouraged the public to listen to their perspectives.
Colonel Qureshi had spoken with India's public broadcaster, Doordarshan, discussing various government welfare schemes and their positive impact, particularly on armed forces personnel and their families. Wing Commander Manhas, in an interview with the news agency ANI, elaborated on women's empowerment initiatives under the Modi administration and shared her personal experiences.
Following these endorsements from PM Modi, speculation arose on social media and in some media outlets, suggesting that these respected retired officers might be engaged by the BJP as campaign ambassadors or key figures to attract voters, especially those with military connections or an interest in women's issues.
However, Amit Malviya's clarification was swift and unambiguous. He stated, "This is fake news. There are no plans whatsoever to use Col Qureshi or Wg Cdr Vyomika as campaign faces." He further asserted that the BJP has its own established leaders and dedicated party workers who will lead their campaign efforts.
Malviya stressed that while the party and the Prime Minister value the service and insightful opinions shared by individuals like Col. Qureshi and Wg Cdr Manhas, this appreciation does not translate into them taking on political roles within the party's campaign structure. The BJP's official stance is that sharing inspiring stories or expert viewpoints from citizens, even those praised by the Prime Minister, should not be misinterpreted as an intention to make them official political campaigners.
The party's quick denial is aimed at controlling the narrative and making it clear that its electoral strategy will depend on its existing political leadership and grassroots workers, rather than incorporating individuals from outside the direct political arena for high-profile campaign roles, despite any public commendation they may receive.
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