FIR Against BJP Chief Nadda, Party Leaders Amit Malviya, BY Vijayendra Over Controversial Video Targeting Congress

An FIR has been filed against BJP leaders, including J.P. Nadda, Amit Malviya, and B.Y. Vijayendra, for a social media post allegedly intimidating SC and ST voters in Karnataka against the Congress.

An FIR has been filed against key BJP figures, including party president J P Nadda, IT cell head Amit Malviya, and Karnataka unit chief B Y Vijayendra, following allegations of a social media post 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, registered by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), asserts that the post violates the model code of conduct.

The video features animated characters of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. In the clip, the SC, ST, and OBC communities are depicted as eggs in a nest, with Rahul Gandhi portrayed as planting a large egg labelled as the Muslim community. The video implies that funds are directed towards the Muslim community, leading to the exclusion of the SC, ST, and OBC communities.

The controversial video in question was shared by the Karnataka BJP on May 4.

The complaint, authored by the Chairman of Media and Communications Department of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee and a practicing advocate, states, "The act of posting the video by BJP appears to be an attempt to garner votes during the Lok Sabha Elections by portraying the Congress party as favoring the Muslim community." Furthermore, it alleges that the video seeks to intimidate SC and ST community members against voting for the Congress party by falsely suggesting that funds allocated for them would be diverted to Muslims.

"The Congress complaint states, "As such, the intent of posting video by BJP on it's official X handle appears to be to seek votes in Lok Sabha Elections by projecting Congress party to be favoring Muslim community. However, the act of J.P.Nadda, National President- Bharatiya Janata Party, Amit Malviya National Social Media Incharge Bharatiya Janata Party, BY Vijayendra-State President-Karnataka BJP and Social Media incharge- Karnataka BJP is to portray the SC and ST Community in deregatory manner and the act showing SC and ST community being "kicked" by an another religion(Muslim) is with an intent to prevent or intimidate a member of Schedule caste or tribe to not vote for a particular candidate attracting offense punishable under Section 3(L)(A) of SC/ST POA Act 1989. It is clear that that video social media post by aforesaid persons is to intimidate members of SC/ST Community not to Vote for Congress party by projecting that funds reserved for them will be usurped by Muslims," it reads.

The complaint also questions the approval process for the video's upload by the State level Media Monitoring committee, highlighting the defamation of SC, ST, and OBC communities by portraying them as eggs.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress, TMC Slam 'Blatant Demonization Of Minorities'

The BJP leaders were booked under the sections of the Representation of People Act and section 505 (2) (Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of the Indian Penal Code, a senior police officer told PTI.

Earlier, Congress MP Manickam Tagore condemned the video as he wrote, "Blatant demonization of minorities by ruling BJP  is unacceptable. The @ECISVEEP
 must wake up to its responsibility and address the divisive tactics of the BJP. Unity, not division, should be the goal for a thriving democracy."

TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose also termed the video as "Revolting and diabolical" demanding the Election Commission of India to take action.

"@ECISVEEP @SpokespersonECI If you don’t act against this , we may as well wind up the election watchdog. The #GeneralElection2024 is now marked by the presence of a 12th man in the form of central agencies, batting in favour of one side," she wrote.