India's poll body pulls up PM Modi's BJP, gets Meta to remove 'communal' posts
Indian PM Narendra Modi speaking at a rally (File photo)
India'stop poll body slammed Prime Minister NarendraModi'sBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday (May 24), whilepullingdown three Instagram posts that the opposition dubbed as"communal".
Thestate'sChief Electoral Officer (CEO) Reena Kangale also issued a"strong warning"to BJP, asking the party against uploading such posts in future.
“We have taken down the three objectionable posts from the BJP Instagram handle and a stern warning has been given to them not to upload such posts in future,”Chief Electoral Officer Kangale said.
Three objectionable posts
The first video was publishedon May 15. The animated video showed a man wearing a skull cap and green clothes robbing a woman.The man is later helped by a caricature of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
The second video, again animated, showed a caricature of Rahul Gandhi snatching awoman'smangalsutra and giving it to a man.This video was uploadedon May 20.
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The third animated video showed Rahul Gandhi placing anegg,labelled'Muslim'in a nest, along with other eggs marked with'SC, ST and OBC.'Later, the hatchling from the‘Muslim’egg grows so big that it pushes other eggs out of the basket.
EC'saction
EC on Friday reached out to the BJP andalsoissued a direction to Instagram owner Meta.
The opposition Congress accused the BJP of disrupting communal harmony in the state.
“It is an extremely serious issue where BJP is conspiring to disrupt communal harmony of India and defame Congress party. They have made it a habit of violating the code of conduct andBJP’ssocial media handles have posted dozens of such posts. Their handle must be suspended. Just letting the BJP off with a warning is not enough. The Election Commission should take legal action against the BJP,”said Sushil Anand Shukla, in charge of theCongress’communication cell in Chhattisgarh.
BJP, on the other hand, defended its posts, saying there was nothing'objectionable'.
"There was nothing religious about it… The posts were related to the Congress narrative of inheritance tax and taking away reservation and giving it to Muslims,” said Somesh Pandey, from the social media cell of the BJP in Chhattisgarh.
(With inputs from agencies)