'Donate For Desh' campaign faces digital twist: Congress's crowdfunding initiative redirects to BJP's donation page

'Donate For Desh' campaign: In a surprising turn of events, the Indian National Congress's crowdfunding campaign, "Donate For Desh," launched on December 18, took an unexpected digital twist as the domain donatefordesh.org redirected users to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) donation page.

Congress President's Commitment

Mallikarjun Kharge, President of the Congress, emphasised that the campaign is a commitment to uphold the rights of marginalised communities, address inequalities, and stand as a strong opposition against an authoritarian government favoring a select few in capitalism. The initiative draws inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi's historic 'Tilak Swaraj Fund' in 1920-21, aiming to protect the values of the Indian Constitution and preserve the Indian National Congress's 138-year-old history.

‘Donate for Desh’ अभियान, हाशिए पर रहने वाले समुदायों के अधिकारों को बनाए रखने, असमानताओं को पाटने और गिने-चुने पूंजीवाद लोगों का पक्ष लेने वाली, तानाशाही सरकार के ख़िलाफ़ एक मजबूत विपक्ष बनने की प्रतिबद्धता है।

▶️ https://t.co/r4e7oDRJhN पर लॉग ऑन कर, अपना महत्वपूर्ण योगदान… pic.twitter.com/jb2HITzT2J

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) December 18, 2023

Unexpected Redirects

The unexpected twist unfolded when users visiting donatefordesh.org were redirected to the BJP's donation page. The digital landscape revealed further redirects – donatefordesh.com led to OpIndia's subscription page, known for its ideological alignment with the ruling BJP, while donatefordesh.in redirected to X account of Anand Ranganathan, a supporter of the right-wing party.

Congress's Fundraiser Route

In contrast, Congress's actual fundraiser, titled 'Donate For Desh,' operates through donateinc.in which leads to donateinc.net, adhering to its planned crowdfunding campaign announced on December 16.

आप और हम, मिलकर बनाएंगे एक बेहतर भारत

- सभी को समाज में पूरा न्याय दिलाकर
- समान अवसर और अधिकार दिलाकर
- प्रगतिशील भविष्य का रास्ता बनाकर

भारत के इस vision में, कांग्रेस के साथ जुड़ें।
https://t.co/0GHYX7oZQb पर जाएं

इस अभियान में अपना योगदान दें, इस संघर्ष में बराबर के… pic.twitter.com/24Wkeh4pXP

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 18, 2023

Digital Landscape Unveiled

The digital antics highlighted the intricacies of online domains and redirections, bringing an unexpected twist to Congress's crowdfunding efforts. As users navigate through various domains, they encounter different destinations, offering a unique tale of the political rivals' digital journey.

Navigating the Landscape

The incident showcases the complexities of online strategies and domain choices, underlining the importance of selecting and securing appropriate domains to avoid unintended redirects.

Unique Online Turn

The unexpected redirections bring a touch of digital intrigue to the political fundraising landscape, adding a unique twist to Congress's "Donate For Desh" campaign.