PTI
 
New Delhi, Jul 9: Even as questions are being raised about the muck-raking ahead of the presidential polls, political mudslinging has gone hi-tech and evolved into cyber slanging.

In fact, cyber communities have been formed that declare their hatred for political parties, including the Congress and the BJP.

There is a "We Hate Congress" community on Orkut, which has been logged on to by over 1,000 users and attacks the ruling party on its home page, saying "this is a party which institutionalised corruption in India".

The Opposition has also not been spared, with a hate community on the web calling itself "Say No to BJP and RSS."

It welcomes bloggers with a "join this group to show that you hate them and their stupid thinking" tag line.

Critical of the trend, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said hate groups have no place in vibrant democracies like India.

He said the very essence of democracy is to channelise your antipathy through democratic means and not to resort to hate tactics.

"Advantages of a border-less world cannot be curtailed for a few members of the lunatic fringe who are abusing this precious freedom," Singhvi said.

Apart from anti-party blogs, there are also some personality-based hate communities like "I Hate Indira Gandhi," "I Hate Rajshekhar Reddy" and "I Hate Deve Gowda" that receives posts filled with hate.

One recently formed community propagating hatred is the "I Hate Arjun Singh" community that states on its welcome page, "you surely know the reason why this group was created. Come vent your anger."

It seems the bloggers keenly watch the new developments in the political arena as a new community has been specifically created to condemn the strained relationship between the BJP and the Shiv Sena.

The community, named "BJP-Shiv Sena Broken Hearts," invites the netizens to post their views about the saffron allies.

Interestingly, there is also a large chunk which rather than hating a specific party has chosen to be critical about the Indian political system as a whole.

The community "I Hate This Indian Politics" is subscribed to by a handsome number of users. Its site states "This is a site for all those who have been victims of Indian politics. I am sure all of us have been victims somewhere or the other." 
 
Orkut-related:

Cyber hazards:

• Bangalore: Spurned Techie Traumatizes Child on Cybernet
• Golden Ground Rules for Internet Safety for Children and Teenagers - by Nina Rai
• Sad and Tragic End to a Cyber Romance - a Lesson for the Young - by Nina Rai