Dhruv Rathee: Idol of Lies

Dhruv Rathee was a simple activist who used to make Youtube videos or Facebook posts about religions, politics in India and abroad, his thoughts on liberalism and conservatism etc.In 2013–14 around when he made his Youtube Account, he had developed a liking towards AAP. He would then regularly post loads of social media content praising AAP and Kejriwal. However, he used to focus exclusively on this field at that time. He started making Positive youtube videos about AAP. However, I bet most of you may not even have heard about him at that time. Despite being active on Youtube since long and making regular videos, he was not getting regular views.

He needed to create a niche audience for this to happen. It is a simple marketing strategy, after all, everybody does this. So he started making some videos in which he was being critical of Modi government instead of his usual AAP related videos. And incidentally, these videos took off and brought him an increased viewership almost instantly. He was often seen thanking people on Social Media for this gained traction.

This increased attention gave him everything a Youtuber desires: A dedicated niche fan base, a regular audience, fame in mainstream media, increased social media followers, chance to meet big stars etc. And all he had to do was keep on making propaganda videos where he bashed Modi, BJP or Hinduism.

He was already getting paid per view by YouTube, soon he would collaborate with NDTV, BBC and other portals for his views and soon started earning from them too. 

Here are some reasons why you should not believe blindly whatever Dhruv Rathee says and cross check his facts;

Reason 1: Selective ignorance

Dhruv Rathee posted two posts which said UAE government is ready to give 700 crores flood relief for Kerala government and tried to build pressure on Indian govt. However, he failed to mention that UAE has clarified the whole issue and said they did not do any such announcement.

Reason 2: Hypocrisy

On one side, he asks people to be tolerant. On the other hand he calls people Blind Bhakt (blind follower) for having a different political opinion.

Reason 3: Factual errors

He makes logical, technical and political errors in his videos. When Facebook pages like FMF and AKTK expose his mistakes, he silently edits them without notifying his followers.

Reason 4: No tolerance

If someone disagress with his statements, Dhruv Rathee blocks that person on his social media pages and also deleted his YouTube comments on his videos. Same is true for people who ask doubts on his videos.

Reason 5: Hard to please customer

When lynchings happen, he says why PM Modi doesn't speak on this issue and clear his stand. And when Modi speaks on the issue and condemns the cow vigilants and also ask police to take strict action, Dhruv Rathee says PM Modi just speaks.

Reason 6: Incomplete analysis

He showed that terror incidents have increased post 2014 in Jammu and Kashmir, which is true. However, he never said terror incidents in 28 other states have drastically dropped to almost zero. As a political analyst, one should not miss this point.

Reason 7: Not reliable

Last year, Dhruv tried to expose a YouTube channel FMF, guess what? FMF made a counter video and exposed him. Since then, I tried to find the his response on the video, but I couldn't. He never spoke on that issue again, even when his followers asked to.

Reason 8: Hides his past

I am following Dhruv Rathee since beginning. In the beginning he used to campaign for Aam Admi Party. In fact, he used to fully support each and every view of AAP president Arvind kejriwal. I never found him accepting this truth. He always says he is politically neutral.  He hates PM Modi and BJP and has unconditional love for Arvind Kejriwal and AAP. He criticizes only and only Modi and BJP and never Kejriwal. He always praises Kejriwal & AAP. Has never criticized Kejriwal. Has asked people to donate to AAP and vote AAP. Not only this he also avoids criticizing Congress and covers up for them. How come he be neutral?

Reason 9: Takes many U-turns

He asks people not to directly believe anyone and anything on the internet, and always ask them to cross check and think logically. When people cross check some of his posts and point out mistakes, he blocks them. I mean people are doing what he is asking them to do.

Reason 10: Clear political bias

He will tell you how many schools Kejriwal built, but he will not tell you about the real core issues of Delhi such as pollution, accidents, quality of life, cleanliness, and corruption.

Reason 11: He twists Facts

1. In his video on road construction, he purposely compared 2015–16 rate of 16km/day with Congress's 11km/day of 2013 to suggest BJP didn't improve much. While he made the video in 2017 when the latest data of 22km/day in 2017 was available that was double of Congrees’s 2012. [1]
2. He presented 2012 data about 55 million families going into poverty due to health treatment as 2017’s data (You know why). [2]
3. In Aug 2017, he claimed Modi and Jaitley were lying on the pretext that both quoted different numbers for increase in tax payers after demonitization. He purposely trimmed videos to hide details that Jaitley's statement was of April,2017 based on figures till Mar 2017 while Modi's statement was of 15th August where he clearly mentioned that figures are of April to August 2017.
4. He said ‘Ease of Doing Business’ ranking does not matter as it’s based on Mumbai and Delhi while ignoring that it measures the convenience and experience of companies of Mumbai & Delhi in operating in whole India. And rules and parameters considered are applicable in whole India.