The BJP seems to be undeterred and continues feeding communal hatred in public, demonizing the Muslim community to target the Congress party in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The saffron party has been criticized for stooping too low to garner votes, making the Muslim community a pawn in the fray.
Unapologetically uploading videos that reflect Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that the Congress would divest the very rights of SC, ST, and OBC and give them to the Muslim community if it comes to power.
The latest cartoon video has surfaced in Karnataka, where the BJP has found itself embroiled in a deep controversy over its downplaying of a sex tape involving Prajwal Revanna from the JDS, its ally in the state. The video directly attacks the Muslim community and portrays Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of the Congress party as perpetrators of the perceived Muslim threat, The Wire reported.
Titled "Beware beware beware" in Kannada, the video portrays a nest containing four eggs, each labelled with different social groups – "Muslims," "SC," "ST," and "OBC." The animation then shows Gandhi feeding the egg marked "Muslim" from a carton labelled "Funds." Subsequently, the "Muslim" egg hatches into a larger chick wearing a skullcap, which proceeds to discard the other three eggs – SC, ST, OBC – while caricatures of Gandhi and Siddaramaiah laugh in the background.
The provocative video has sparked outrage from opposition parties and civil society alike, with many condemning it as a brazen attempt to stoke communal tensions for political gain. The Wire, a prominent news outlet, has taken the matter to the Election Commission (EC), urging swift action in light of the inflammatory content.
Despite the uproar, the Election Commission has remained conspicuously silent, prompting further criticism of its handling of election-related violations. The Congress has filed a formal complaint with the EC, naming BJP president J.P. Nadda, its IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya, state president B.Y. Vijayendra, and the social media in-charge of the Karnataka BJP.
Ramesh Babu, the KPCC media and communication chairman, emphasized the gravity of the situation, alleging that the BJP's actions were aimed at inciting communal discord and intimidating voters from marginalized communities. Babu stressed the urgent need for the EC to intervene and take appropriate action against those responsible.
Calls for action from the Election Commission come in the wake of its earlier warnings against the spread of fake news on social media during elections. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had underscored the importance of maintaining public order and curbing the dissemination of false information that could disturb the electoral process.
Despite instituting measures to combat misinformation, including the launch of "Myth versus Reality" on its website, the Election Commission's response to the BJP's controversial videos has left many dismayed. Critics argue that the videos blatantly violate the Model Code of Conduct, which prohibits appeals to caste or communal sentiments to secure votes.
The use of religion as a political tool has long been a contentious issue in Indian elections, with the Representation of the People Act, 1951, explicitly prohibiting appeals based on religion. Section 123 (3) of the Act categorizes such appeals as "corrupt practices," signalling the seriousness with which electoral authorities view attempts to exploit religious sentiments for electoral gain.
The BJP's videos, which propagate Prime Minister Modi's claims that the Congress intends to favour Muslims over other communities, have further exacerbated tensions.
This latest incident follows earlier allegations of Model Code of Conduct violations by political leaders, including Prime Minister Modi and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. While the Election Commission had taken cognizance of these allegations, its response to the BJP's videos has raised questions about its impartiality and effectiveness in ensuring fair elections.