Several slammed the saffron party’s post and tagged the Election Commission of India (ECI0 to take action against the “hate”.
A social media post by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Karnataka unit on Saturday, April 4, sparked outrage online, with many condemning the animation video for “Islamophobic hate”.
The animated video, captioned “Beware.. Beware.. Beware..!” in Kannada, featured apparent caricatures of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah placing an egg labelled “Muslims” in a nest of alongside three eggs marked as “SC [Scheduled Castes], ST [Scheduled Tribes] and OBC [Other Backward Classes]”
ಎಚ್ಚರ.. ಎಚ್ಚರ.. ಎಚ್ಚರ..! pic.twitter.com/Pr75QHf4lI
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) May 4, 2024
The video shared by the BJP Karnataka on a social media platform depicted a caricature of Gandhi feeding money exclusively to a bird emerging from a “Muslim” egg, which then pushes away other birds from different eggs, followed by laughter. This video, part of the Lok Sabha elections campaign, faced significant backlash on social media.
By the time of publishing this article, the video on X garnered over 4 million views.
Many users tagged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take action against the “hate”.
Slamming EC’s inaction against the BJP over the video, TMC MP Saket Gokhale remarked: “The Election Commission of India has never seen a lower point in the history of the country.”
“I say this with full responsibility: The Election Commission of India has never seen a lower point in the history of the country. It has been reduced to a joke – a cruel joke that is supervising & encouraging the complete destruction of a fair electoral process built over decades. Shame is an understatement. This election officially has no rules left anymore for BJP or Modi. We are officially no more a country that can pride itself on free & fair elections,” the TMC MP said in a post on X.
I say this with full responsibility:
The Election Commission of India has never seen a lower point in the history of the country.
It has been reduced to a joke – a cruel joke that is supervising & encouraging the complete destruction of a fair electoral process built over… pic.twitter.com/KBYanEuisf
— Saket Gokhale MP (@SaketGokhale) May 4, 2024
Actor Prakash Raj called the post “shameless” and remarked that Karnataka will teach BJP a “befitting” lesson.
“Shameless @BJP4Karnataka … MARK my WORDs .. inclusive n peace loving Karnataka and our Country.. will teach you a befitting Lesson.. for your disgusting.. Hate spreading.. Communal Politics .. #SaveDemocracySaveIndia from these bigots #justasking,” he said in a post on X.
Shameless @BJP4Karnataka … MARK my WORDs .. inclusive n peace loving Karnataka and our Country.. will teach you a befitting Lesson.. for your disgusting.. Hate spreading.. Communal Politics .. #SaveDemocracySaveIndia from these bigots #justasking https://t.co/tEeJuuD2k1
— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) May 4, 2024
Professor Nitasha Kaul, a British academic of Indian origin, described a video as “a straightforward 1930s Germany-style cartoon” on X, drawing a comparison between the propaganda used by Nazi Germany during that era and the content of the video.
“No wonder calls by many Indians for ECI to act or resign. No hope though – election commission members chosen by the incumbent,” she added.
A straightforward 1930s Germany style cartoon by BJP Karnataka in #India #elections. One of many violations of electoral conduct rules.
No wonder calls by many Indians for ECI to act or resign. No hope though – election commission members chosen by incumbent.
This is a shame. https://t.co/1DTG6LMLX2
— Professor Nitasha Kaul, PhD (@NitashaKaul) May 4, 2024
Are you appointed to take action only on opposition parties? @rajivkumarec @ECISVEEP @ceo_karnataka? https://t.co/hjMJEht4lO
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) May 4, 2024