Congress to Recruit 5 Lakh Volunteers for Party's Social Media Unit

NEW DELHI: In an effort to expand the party's digital footprint, Congress on Monday launched a nationwide campaign to recruit five lakh 'social media warriors.'

This move is reportedly being perceived as the Opposition party's answer to Bharatiya Janata Party's social media presence and their social media unit, BJP IT Cell.

Former party president Rahul Gandhi said a "paid troll army" is spreading hatred and anger in the country and it was time to counter that. "As a young person, you could see what is going on… In your schools, universities and colleges you can see the oppression. You can see the attack on the idea of India. Look outside Delhi, you can see what is happening to the farmers. The backbone of this war on the nation is a troll army… We also need warriors to defend liberal values, to defend the ideas of compassion, peace, harmony and affection," he said in a video message.

"This is an army of truth. This is an army that will defend the idea of India. We are building this platform for you. To give you tools to fight this battle and win," he said.

According to reports, the party will interview respondents out of which the party will hire five lakh people as volunteers. Congress social media department will then appoint 50,000 office bearers at district, state and national level, while the remaining 4.5 lakh persons would form a network of Congress workers who will help spread the party message with "coherence and in one voice".

Launching the 'Join Congress Social Media' campaign, AICC social media head Rohan Gupta, AICC in-charge (Administration) Pawan Kumar Bansal and party spokesperson Pawan Khera said people can join through the website, toll-free number or by WhatsApp.

Rohan Gupta took over as the chairperson of the Congress' social media department in September 2019. The department was earlier headed by Divya Spandana.

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