EXPOSED: How political trolls used the fake news story about UAE's Rs 700 crore Kerala flood aid

Earlier this week, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had offered to give Rs 700 crore as aid for the Kerala flood victims. The offer, which turned out to not be real would have been declined by the Indian government, which has had an unstated policy brought into force by the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government at the time of the 2004 Tsunami and Earthquake to not accept disaster aid from foreign countries. The fact that the purported aid offered by the UAE was greater than the central government's allocation led to what has been revealed, by Republic TV's investigation, to be a manufactured political controversy, with social media handles affiliated to opposition parties, including the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the Left parties making a concerted attempt to lash out at the government.

The investigation followed the twist earlier on Friday, when the UAE ambassador, Ahmed Albanna, speaking to the Indian Express, denied that his country had decided upon any amount to be donated for the Kerala floods. He was quoted as saying, "UAE has not announced Rs 700 crore in aid. It is not yet final. It has not been announced. The assessment of relief needed for the flood and aftermath is ongoing. Announcing any specific amount as financial aid, I don't think it is final, since it is still ongoing."

Here's a look at how the fictitious offer was utilised to make a political attack:

Left Parties:

Raktim R.Choudhury, Political advisor for Communist Party of India (Marxist) tweeted, "The Modi govt. has allocated a grant of Rs 500 crores for Kerala. Bt the amount of damage is around 20 thousand crores. Central govt. has imposed a ban on the acceptance of 700 crores rupees from the UAE. Why? Just bcz of political revenge, central govt. has made such a decision."

Another of his tweets read, "Modi's Gujarat got aid from so many countries through UN, during the Gujarat earthquake. Now, Modi's govt is trying all methods to stop aid to flood-ravaged Kerala. Even the Rs.700 crores from UAE, which would've been a great help for the state, is being sought to be blocked."

Congress:

A former General Secretary of the Indian National Congress Jothimani tweeted, "United Arab Emirates (UAE) offered financial assistance of Rs 700 crores for #KeralaFloods And Indian Govt offered 600 crores!"

Another person purportedly affiliated to the Congress, Shama Mohamed, tweeted, "Its bad enough that the Centre is offering only Rs 600 cr to #Kerala. Its an entirely new low to find reasons to refuse the Rs 700 cr aid that UAE has offered. What does the #Modi govt have against Kerala? #RebuildKerala #KeralaFloods #KeralaSOS"

AMS Diravia Raj, an activist related to the Congress, tweeted, "The little boy shaking the hand if Indira Gandhi (is now the current king of UAE) he has sanctioned 700 crores as relief for Kerala floods.. Modi sarkar has still not given permission for Kerala to receive that funds.."

Samajwadi Party:

Karan Batra, listing himself as a Vice President at the Youth wing of Samajwadi Party, tweeted, "We are Living in Times when the #UAE Government provides more Financial Aid to Kerala than that provided by our own Central Govt. Cent Govt - Rs.600 crores UAE Govt - Rs.700 crores #KeralaFoods @yadavakhilesh @RahulGandhi @ebad_mohd @pankhuripathak @anil100y @AnjaliupadhyayS"