[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Several BJP leaders have come out in defence of Mahesh Vikram Hegde, co-founder and editor of right-wing propaganda website Postcard News which has been shown to regularly put up fake news propagating Hindutva agenda and Islamophobia.

Meanwhile, the BJP president Amit Shah went to campaign with a list of 23 BJP and RSS workers killed in Karnataka, falsely accusing ‘jehadis’ of being behind the murders.

Hegde was arrested by Karnataka police on Thursday, March 29, for spreading fake news likely to fan communal hatred, Alt News reported.

Hegde was taken into custody after he posted on social media that Jain monk Upadhyaya Mayank Sagar Ji Maharaj was attacked by some Muslim youth. However, Jain monk was actually injured in a road accident.

The news of attack on Jain muni by Muslim youth was shared by several serial peddlers of fake news. Mahesh Vikram Hegde, the founder of fake news site PostCard News, and Gaurav Pradhan, who has been caught spreading fake news on several occasions, also put out this claim on their Twitter accounts, reported Alt News.

Both Mahesh Vikram Hegde and Gaurav Pradhan are followed by Prime Minister Modi on Twitter, Alt News pointed out.

Dhruv Rathee said, “The whole BJP IT Cell and even ministers have come out in support of Fake News Mastermind.”[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Tejasvi Surya, General Secretary – BJP Youth Wing, Karnataka chimed in: “Appeared & argued on behalf of Mahesh Hegde. Police sought 14 days custody. Judge rejected & gave one day judicial custody. He will be produced b4 court on Saturday & hopefully will #ReleaseMaheshHegde. 3rd rate political vendetta of Siddaramaiah Govt. We’ll fight till end!”[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Pratap Simha was one of the first leaders from the Party to tweet in support of fake news peddler Mahesh Hegde.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde followed: “Shame on the state government led by @siddaramaiah which is behaving in dictatorial terms in arresting @mvmeet. Ensure to follow the true democratic spirit in fighting us rather than doing a coward act. #ReleaseMaheshHegde”[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Founder of Alt News Pratik Sinha tweeted about the hashtag used by Anantkumar Hegde saying, “Fervent appeals to trend #ReleaseMaheshHegde on BJP WhatsApp Groups in support of @postcard_news founder @mvmeet.”[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]BJP MP from East Delhi and BJP National Secretary Mahesh Girri was among those who tweeted in his support, slamming the Siddaramaiah Govt and the Congress party.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYmxvY2txdW90ZSUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIydHdpdHRlci10d2VldCUyMiUyMGRhdGEtbGFuZyUzRCUyMmVuJTIyJTNFJTNDcCUyMGxhbmclM0QlMjJlbiUyMiUyMGRpciUzRCUyMmx0ciUyMiUzRVRoZSUyMGFycmVzdCUyMG9mJTIwJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGbXZtZWV0JTNGcmVmX3NyYyUzRHR3c3JjJTI1NUV0ZnclMjIlM0UlNDBtdm1lZXQlM0MlMkZhJTNFJTIwJTI2YW1wJTNCJTIwRklSJTIwb24lMjBtYW55JTIwb3RoZXIlMjBuYXRpb25hbGlzdCUyMHR3ZWVwbGVzJTIwaW4lMjBLYXJuYXRha2ElMjBpcyUyMGElMjBzaGFtZWxlc3MlMjBhY3QlMjBvZiUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRnNpZGRhcmFtYWlhaCUzRnJlZl9zcmMlM0R0d3NyYyUyNTVFdGZ3JTIyJTNFJTQwc2lkZGFyYW1haWFoJTNDJTJGYSUzRSUyMGdvdnQuJTIwSXQlMjBzaG93cyUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRklOQ0luZGlhJTNGcmVmX3NyYyUzRHR3c3JjJTI1NUV0ZnclMjIlM0UlNDBJTkNJbmRpYSUzQyUyRmElM0UlMjAlMjZhbXAlM0IlMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGdHdpdHRlci5jb20lMkZSYWh1bEdhbmRoaSUzRnJlZl9zcmMlM0R0d3NyYyUyNTVFdGZ3JTIyJTNFJTQwUmFodWxHYW5kaGklM0MlMkZhJTNFJTI2JTIzMzklM0JzJTIwY29udGVtcHQlMjBmb3IlMjBjb25zdGl0dXRpb25hbCUyMHZhbHVlcyUyMGxpa2UlMjBUb2xlcmFuY2UlMjAlMjZhbXAlM0IlMjBGcmVlZG9tJTIwb2YlMjBFeHByZXNzaW9uLiUzQyUyRnAlM0UlMjZtZGFzaCUzQiUyME1haGVpc2glMjBHaXJyaSUyMCUyOCU0ME1haGVpc2hHaXJyaSUyOSUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRk1haGVpc2hHaXJyaSUyRnN0YXR1cyUyRjk3OTQzMTU4Mjk3MTc4NTIxNiUzRnJlZl9zcmMlM0R0d3NyYyUyNTVFdGZ3JTIyJTNFTWFyY2glMjAyOSUyQyUyMDIwMTglM0MlMkZhJTNFJTNDJTJGYmxvY2txdW90ZSUzRSUwQSUzQ3NjcmlwdCUyMGFzeW5jJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZwbGF0Zm9ybS50d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRndpZGdldHMuanMlMjIlMjBjaGFyc2V0JTNEJTIydXRmLTglMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0UlMEE=[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Soon, right-wing social media users joined the chorus, tweeting away furiously in Mahesh Hegde’s defence and accusing Karnataka Government of indulging in petty politics. Most of these tweets had the common hashtags #ReleaseMaheshHegde and #ISupportMaheshHegde, suggesting a synchronised social media campaign in favour of the arrested fake news website founder. Pro-BJP Facebook pages and WhatsApp groups also appealed for trending #ReleaseMaheshHegde on social media.

The claim that freedom of expression (FOE) was being stifled was a common narrative in many of these tweets, reported AltNews. Some of them also resorted to whataboutery.

Rahul Raj @bhaksala, Priti Gandhi @MrsGandhi, Sriram @srirambjp, #GauravPradhan @DrGPradhan, Ajay Pratap Singh Sengar @sengarajay235, Ashu @muglikar, Connected MRI @ExSecular were among them, writing about freedom of expression.

All the above accounts are followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Twitter, said Alt News. Sonam Mahajan, who Alt News has exposed on multiple occasions for spreading fake news on social media too tweeted in support of Hegde.

Postcard News has often been promoted by prominent BJP leaders and ministers in Modi government, Kiren Rijiju and Piyush Goyal among those who have shared articles posted on the website.

Communal tension being a dominant theme in BJP election propaganda, it was no surprise that arrest of Hegde sparked such outrage among the party leaders and followers.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]