ECI Orders X To Take Down Controversial Karnataka BJP Video Targeting Congress On 'Reservation To Muslims'

The Election Commission of India has directed social media company 'X' to remove an objectionable post by 'BJP4Karnataka' on Twitter, targeting the Congress party over alleged reservation to Muslims

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a directive to social media giant 'X' to promptly remove an objectionable post originating from the handle 'BJP4Karnataka'. The post in question, shared on Twitter by 'BJP4Karnataka', has been deemed violative by the ECI.

"Dear Nodal Officer, I am directed to inform that post of "BJP4Karnataka" (as mentioned below) is violative of extant legal framework. https://twitter.com/BJP4Karnataka/status/1786725873334256103?t=Fdn3n1X_CTNs84ScAjF61w&s=08 2. An FIR (copy enclosed) has already been registered in the matter. It is further brought to your notice that Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka through Cyber Crime Division, Bengaluru has already directed X on 05.05.2024 to take down the objectionable post as per Section 79(3)(b) of Information Technology Act and rule 3(1)(d) of The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021. However, the post has not been taken down yet," the directive reads.

"Therefore, 'X' is directed to take down the post immediately. This is issued with the approval of the competent authority," it added.

The Congress party welcomed the move and remarked, "This order of the Election Commission of the country is a strong blow to the hateful thinking of BJP."

FIR Against BJP Chief Nadda, Party's Amit Malviya, BY Vijayendra Over Reservation Video Targeting Congress

This development follows the lodging of an FIR against prominent BJP figures, including party president J P Nadda, IT cell head Amit Malviya, and Karnataka unit chief B Y Vijayendra. The FIR was lodged against the video as it allegedly intended to intimidate members of the SC and ST communities against voting for a specific candidate, news agency PTI reported police as informing on Monday. The complaint, filed by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), asserts that the post violates the model code of conduct.

The contentious post, described in the complaint, features animated representations of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. In the video, the SC, ST, and OBC communities are depicted as eggs in a nest, with Rahul Gandhi depicted as planting a large egg labelled as the Muslim community. The video insinuates the misappropriation of funds towards the Muslim community, allegedly resulting in the neglect of the SC, ST, and OBC communities.

The complaint, authored by the Chairman of the Media and Communications Department of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee and a practicing advocate, condemns the act as an attempt by the BJP to sway votes during the Lok Sabha Elections by portraying the Congress party as biased towards the Muslim community. Additionally, it accuses the video of attempting to intimidate SC and ST community members against supporting the Congress party by falsely suggesting the diversion of funds earmarked for them to Muslims.