rewrite this title BJP Misrepresents Mediapart’s Report on OCCRP, Spreads Unfounded Narratives

A few days after the French investigative online newspaper mediapart published a report about their findings regarding Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting ProjectUS-linked funding of (OCCRP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) share a thread of posts on X (formerly Twitter), drawing parallels between the organization and the Indian National Congress (Congress,

Have shared a screenshot of this mediapartreports, asking why OCCRP “Was associated with Rahul Gandhi?” Claiming to explore the relationship between OCCRP And Congress.

In subsequent posts, it was alleged that the organization and Gandhi had worked together to push ‘narratives’ and that Gandhi had “complyed” with his efforts to “set the agenda” while “working against them”. ” Adani Group,

BJP highlighted this and claimed that it is a pattern OCCRPCoverage on Adani, The Pegasus app and Brazil’s suspension of Covaxin imports in 2021, alleging that Congress raised these issues only after their report came out.

Accusing the OCCRP of “going out of its way to defend Rahul Gandhi”, the party highlighted that the organization had received funding from a foundation owned by Hungarian businessman and investor George Soros and that Gandhi was:

• “Known to have ties to Soros,”

• “To negotiate with anyone acting against our national interests,” and

• is connected to a OCCRP Reporter who allegedly helped raise funds for Congress.

(Swipe to see the post.)

we went through mediapartreport, which talks about OCCRP and how he allegedly “hid the extent of his ties to the US government”, discovering the amount of funding the organization received from Washington.

It also said that the US government did not give permission. OCCRP Using these funds to investigate issues related to the country while having the right to veto any new senior level staff appointments.

The search for the word ‘India’ continues mediapart Showed several reports that mainly talked about Rafale deal controversy,

Same search continues OCCRP led us to a dedicated section for India Which, in 2024, covered several stories related to the Adani Group and a report on the India-Canada diplomatic dispute.

in a statement to Wire, Karin Fouteau, mediapartThe organization condemned the “instrumentation” of its report by the BJP “to serve the BJP’s political agenda and attack the freedom of the press”, said the publisher and director of the Press Trust of India.

He clarified that “there are no facts available to support the conspiracy theory propagated by the BJP.”

The report, titled ‘Hidden ties between investigative journalism giants and the US government’, explores how and when OCCRP was founded and how it became the global network of independent investigative journalists it is today.

elaboration OCCRP’The project’s first project, it chronicles how, over the years, project co-founder and publisher Drew Sullivan has worked with personnel from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), and state Did. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the Department to promote the project.

It reportedly details Washington’s power over the organization, enabling the nation to ‘veto’ nominations for senior-level positions. OCCRP,

mediapartwas also investigated OCCRPits investigative work and its previous projects focused on Russia, Malta, Venezuela and Cyprus.

in one Announcement OCCRP released its statement after it was shared on its website on December 2. mediapartThe report said it “distorts the facts.”

It added that the story was not able to “cite a single example of inaccuracy or influence” in his work, but instead “relied on innuendo and implication,” stating that their editorial process had safeguards in place to ensure that Measures were taken to ensure that they maintain independence, especially as a donor-funded organization.

However, according to mediapartInvestigation, 52 percent between 2014 and 2023 OCCRPThe money came from the US government.

The organization refuted this figure, clarifying that the actual number is closer to 46 percent.

So far, we have established that mediapartIndia was not talked about at all in the investigation, and that OCCRP Denied any criticism of the U.S. government or accusations of interfering in the investigation and refuted their findings.

Although BJP believes that it has close relations with Congress OCCRP Because the party has mentioned the organization’s report while raising issues in press conferences, social media and Parliament.

In its second post in the thread, BJP claims Congress only talked about Brazil’s exit from the Covaxin deal with India in 2021 OCCRPDespite the news breaking in June 2021, the report came in July.

while this is true OCCRP published its report on July 1, 2021, it is fair to note that most news organizations also included The Quint, The article was published only a day earlier, on June 30.

,hard hit,

It claimed that the same pattern was repeated when it came to reports related to the Pegasus spyware, and accused Congress of starting to ‘push the narrative’ after this. OCCRPreport of Released on 18 August 2021.

However, we found many Mention That was preceded by a report by Anand Manganale, the organization’s regional editor for South Asia, about spyware on the Congress’ official

(swipe).

BJP draws more similarities between Rahul Gandhi and OCCRPWhich also includes claims of his association with Soros.

It shared a picture in which he is seen with a OCCRP Bangladeshi journalist Mushfiqul Fazal Ansari said, “Why Rahul Gandhi was holding talks with someone working against our national interests is not clear.”

The photo was taken during Gandhiji’s visit to America In May 2024, when he spoke at a press conference where Ansari was present.

In a subsequent post, the BJP alleged that OCCRP also receives funding from “deep state” personalities such as George Soros and the Rockefeller Foundation.

However, when we checked official website At OCCRP, we found no mention of funding or prior support by the Rockefeller Foundation.

The Quint has reached mediapart For his statement on BJP’s post and OCCRP For their input regarding these allegations. We will update this report when we receive a response.

,editor’s Note: The story has been updated to reflect discrepancies in OCCRP’s funders.)