A concerning trend has emerged in India where individuals create social media accounts using Hindu names to spread division and hatred among various Hindu communities. This activity, referred to as “Social Media Jihad,” aims to create discord among Hindus of different castes and regions. Recent investigations have uncovered the identities behind some of these fake accounts, revealing an organised effort to weaken Hindu unity.
Social Media Jihad
A new kind of Jihad has been unearthed in India in which Muslims create social media handles by Hindu names and abuse the Hindus of other caste and states
Aim is to create rift between different sections of Hindus
Recently an independent investigative handle… pic.twitter.com/TgITfDQIF9
— The Chronology (@TheChronology__) October 9, 2024
The rise of Social Media Jihad poses a significant threat to social harmony. Accounts pretending to be Hindu have been identified as tools for spreading abuse and false information aimed at Hindus, with the clear intention of creating rifts within the community.
One notable account, exposed by the investigative handle @HPhobiaWatch, is called “We Dravidians.” Despite its seemingly harmless name, this account is run by a group that includes several Christians and a Muslim named Shaikh Abid Hasan from Kolkata. The content shared by this account targets upper-caste Hindus, North Indians, and Hindu deities, promoting stereotypes and fostering animosity between different Hindu groups.
This account has even called for the South to secede from India, claiming that attacking Sanatan Dharma was its ultimate goal. With 41,000 followers, it identifies itself as a political organisation supporting Dravidian ideologies, inspired by figures like Periyar and Ambedkar.
“We Dravidians” began on Twitter in May 2019 and later expanded to other platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. By 2021, it launched a website to spread anti-Hindu sentiments.
The account faced backlash on October 5, 2023, after it targeted actor Pawan Kalyan for praising MGR, a prominent figure in Tamil Nadu politics. The account mocked Pawan Kalyan with derogatory images, portraying him as a dwarf in a saffron robe and suggesting that he consumes cow dung and urine as part of his diet. These posts were rooted in hate speech made against Hindus by DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin in September 2023.
On October 7, a cyber complaint to this effect was filed by a lawyer named Arun Raju with the Andhra Pradesh Police Department. He had highlighted the abuses hurled by ‘We Dravidians’ against Pawan Kalyan and the broader Hindu community. Sensing legal trouble in a State not protected by the DMK ecosystem, ‘We Dravidians’ quickly deleted its Twitter, Facebook and Instagram profiles.
This is the acknowledgment by @APPOLICE100. I have filed a complaint against @WeDravidians for repeatedly abusing @APDeputyCMO and the Hindu religion. I urge PK fans to file as many cases as possible. I can guide you in filing cases against these hate mongers. #PawannKalyan pic.twitter.com/7OFU6KTh37
— Arun (@arunlagidi) October 7, 2024
Another significant account is “Dhruv Rathee (Parody),” run by Md Rashid Raza from Buxar. This account also pretends to be Hindu while consistently attacking Hindu traditions and beliefs. Investigations indicate that there may be thousands of similar accounts operated by people from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, all contributing to Social Media Jihad and aiming to divide the Hindu community.
The effects of this behaviour are serious. It increases communal tensions and threatens the values of respect and understanding that are vital in a diverse society. As these fake accounts multiply, it is essential for social media platforms, lawmakers, and the public to stay alert and counter this divisive trend.
