Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SHP)
Bengaluru, Jan 5: If fake claims on social media were to be believed, a 'magic' number seems to exist that not only gives one free Netflix subscription, but also gratifies one's carnal desires. But if one were to actually dial the number, you would inadvertently end up supporting the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act!
Amid the widespread protests over implementation of CAA, the centre and the BJP are finding creative ways to garner support for the Act. However, the campaign's quick deterioration into a mindless string of enticements and fake claims has invited criticism of the ruling government on social media.
Initially, people were asked to register their support to CAA by giving a missed call on the number 8866288662. However, to increase the supporter count, those in favour of the Act went a step further, offering a range of goodies from free Netflix to free job offers, all of them fake. Shockingly, there were tweets which claimed the number belonged to phone sex operators.
BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje on January 3 shared a post asking people to support CAA by calling the mobile number. "Give a Missed call to +91 8866288662 to show your support for the #CAA2019. Let's stand as ONE & uphold the ethos, harmony & compassion of this land. This will end decades long sufferings of our minorities brothers from Pak, Afghan & Bangladesh," she tweeted.
A quick search in Truecaller shows that the number belongs to BJP, with Gujarat as the location.
However, the number soon gained notoriety on social media. Call the number and await delivery of a free Apple TV, said one. "Sunny Leone will be live for the next two hours. Speak to her on 8866288662," claimed another.
Even sports enthusiast got in the game, where one of them tweeted, "Those who want Virat Kohli to be nominated as the best cricketer of the year, dial..." Hooked to politics, another tweet followed fast: "If you want UP CM to resign, dial..."
Concerns raised when netizens noticed that the number was repeated in several instances. As the number gained traction, so did the memes that spilt over every social media platform. Many found a connection between the Twitter accounts promoting the number and the BJP IT Cell.
Meanwhile, as the number went viral, Netflix came forward to debunk regarding one of the freebies. The streaming giant stated that it had no intention to grant a free streaming service for six months. "This is absolutely fake. If you want free Netflix please use someone else's account like the rest of us," Netflix tweeted.
Soon, the whole issue turned into a meme, with some jokingly calling it a sign of 'progress'.
By Saturday evening, the anti-CAA protesters had a counter to the missed call campaign. WeThePeople, a collective of about 100 organisations trending hashtags NoToCAA, NoToNPR, NoToNationawideNRC had their number for a missed call: 7787060606.