The aforementioned situation exemplifies today’s disturbing reality, in which a skilled and unassuming young YouTuber and independent journalist, Thulasi Chandu, has been the victim of death and rape threats from an organised trolls army. This troll army professes to protect religious values and patriotism while supporting Hindutva ideology and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Thulasi’s three-year-old YouTube channel has drawn their ire, resulting in constant trolling, including filthy comments, harassment, and threats of violence.
Thulasi’s journalism career began as a trainee with Eenadu, and she later worked for ETV, ABN, Sakshi, and Velugu for almost 16 years before creating her own YouTube channel in September 2020. Her channel aims to create a forum for her to share her thoughts on social issues without regard for caste, religion, or gender. Thulasi won the hearts and minds of tens of thousands of people from all walks of life by delivering well-researched tales backed up by solid data, logical arguments, and a humanitarian and scientific approach. Her membership base expanded to 1.82 lakh people.
Thulasi’s movies addressed a wide range of topics, including culture, history, lifestyle, people’s movements, economic concerns, administrative malfeasance, and criticism on hate-fueled politics. Within two years, her research, presenting style, and findings drew attention and established her as a famous pundit.
Thulasi’s growing popularity and influence, however, drew the attention of those in authority, who sought to quiet her, not directly through the government, but through supporters of the ruling party at the centre. Whenever she criticised or exposed the government’s delay, inadequacies, or deliberate acts on urgent social concerns, notably those involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, government supporters launched harsh attacks against her. They unleashed a torrent of insults, innuendos, and character assassination, not just on Thulasi but also on her family and companion. They spread false claims, branding her as a Muslim progeny, an urban Naxal, and someone who pretended to be Hindu despite being a Muslim.
These organised trolls even set up rival YouTube channels dedicated simply to promoting hatred against Thulasi, frequently sharing modified photographs of her. Such actions constitute organised crime, which is criminal under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology (IT) Act. Despite Thulasi’s earlier accusations, law enforcement officials have failed to take adequate action, ignoring the violation of a woman’s modesty and the use of technology to spread hate against her.
Thulasi’s predicament reached a boiling point on June 24 when she posted an emotional appeal on her Facebook page titled “Why do I make more videos on BJP?” She confronted the trolls hiding behind phoney identities and fictitious names in her thorough statement, exposing their nasty comments and demeaning messages. Thulasi traced the trolling back to a video she made before the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections two years ago, urging people to reject religious bigotry. She likened the BJP to the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), warning against religiously divisive politics.
She urged citizens to prioritise development and the future of their children, criticising the Central Government’s policies on price rises, unemployment, and the asset monetization of public sector units (PSUs). She warned people not to be mislead by false narratives spread by WhatsApp groups and to think critically.
This appeal piqued the conscience of Telugu society, eliciting an outpouring of support for Thulasi.
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