An image of a poster with the Congress symbol hanging in Cambridge Analytica’s office has raised eyebrows of political observers in India. The image has led to heated debates on Indian TV channels on Congress link to Cambridge Analytica. BJP MP Subramanian Swamy said that ‘Congress has been caught red handed with their dirty hand poster and therefore there is no escape’ while commenting on the issue.
On Congress’ poster in Cambridge Analytica CEO’s office, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy Congress is caught red-handed and there is no escape, asks how was Cambridge Analytica paid #DataKisKeHaath pic.twitter.com/lONEdZlhQs
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) March 29, 2018
This is the second evidence linking the party to the now infamous firm which has been misusing data of citizens for the sake of manipulating elections around the world. Earlier, the whistleblower James Wylie had revealed that the Congress was the client of Cambridge Analytica in his deposition before the British MPs.
Some supporters of the Congress have claimed that the poster behind Alexander Nix was photoshopped. However the journalist who was in the room has said that the image was authentic.
Some journalists have proposed the theory that Cambridge Analytica might not have been associated with the Congress party. They asked whether this was form a ‘pitch’ or ‘contract’ .
In an interview to Barkha Dutt, the Congress social media chief Divya Spandana/Ramya has claimed that Cambridge Analytica approached the Congress party’s leaders with some proposals but it was never given a contract/deal.
Exclusive: Congress @divyaspandana confirms Cambridge Analytica DID approach them; there were emails & a proposal for 2019 elections but says party turned them down. “They were client- hunting like agencies do. We said No”. Preview of my interview for @themojo_in & @TheWeekLive pic.twitter.com/b9At34NBm4
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) March 28, 2018
It remains to be seen as to how the Congress – Cambridge Analytica saga will emerge in future.