Congress, BJP in cyber slugfest

The BJP has accused the Congress of “petty theft of its political rival’s identity” by creating a portal with a domain name similar to the BJP’s that would divert users to the AICC website.

The BJP has accused the Congress of “petty theft of its political rival’s identity” by creating a portal with a domain name similar to the BJP’s that would divert users to the AICC website.

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The Congress immediately hit back, telling the BJP that it was far too popular to stoop to such an act.

The BJP had slapped a legal notice on the Congress on September 25 for “registration of the domain name bjp.com and linking the same to the website of the AICC” — meaning that if one types bjp.com, one would get diverted to the AICC website — but the Congress is allegedly yet to reply.

The Congress, however, says it is yet to receive the notice.

The BJP’s official website is bjp.org. “The BJP sent a legal notice to the Congress on a matter of petty theft of its political rival’s identity. But the ruling party has not yet responded to it officially,” BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said on Sunday.

When contacted, it was found that the US phones were connected to answering machines, with none responding to the calls.

The Congress, however, rubbished the BJP’s suggestion that this may be a Congress conspiracy to divert people who are searching online for BJP to its website.

“As of now, no complaint has been brought to my attention. If and when received, we will give a befitting reply to that sensationalism and falsehood,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.

“It is laughable to suggest that the Congress is copying the BJP’s website. Given the electorate’s rejection of the BJP and our own connectivity and popularity in India, it should be the other way round.”

Congress spokesperson Shakil Ahmed told PTI, “I don’t know the exact facts about the website. But if it is true, there could be some technological problems. It is unfortunate that the BJP is trying to politicise a technological problem.”