New Delhi, May 6 (Reuters): Animated videos shared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party targeting opposition Congress and the Muslim community have evoked complaints and outrage, as the political climate in India heats up midway through its six-week long election.
The videos, shared by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on social media platforms Instagram and X over the last ten days, depict the Congress giving disproportionate benefits to India’s minority Muslim community, at the cost of certain disadvantaged tribal and Hindu caste groups.
The Congress, in a complaint to the poll watchdog Election Commission, said on Sunday that the video has been shared “clearly with an intention to wantonly provocate rioting and promote enmity between different religions”.
A set of guidelines mutually adopted by political parties for how they should conduct themselves during the election period prohibit them from creating “mutual hatred” between caste, religious or linguistic groups.
Manipulated videos on social media have also become a contentious issue in this election.
Modi, the face of the Hindu-nationalist BJP, seeking a rare third consecutive term, had focused his campaign largely on his government’s performance on economic growth and welfare benefits.
But he changed tack after the first phase of voting on April 19 and his campaign speeches have since become more polarising on religious lines, accusing Congress of planning to redistribute the wealth of the majority Hindus among minority Muslims, who he called “infiltrators” who have “more children”.
The videos shared by the BJP over the last ten days, one of which has since been taken down, illustrated the same message.
A 17-second video shared by a state unit of BJP on May 4, with over 8.5 million views, shows a character resembling Congress leader Rahul Gandhi feeding “funds” to a bird in a skullcap, which eventually pushes out from their common nest three other birds representing other disadvantaged groups.
The Congress has filed a police complaint against BJP leaders for the video, BJP’s head of information and technology Amit Malviya said on X.
“The Congress should infact thank the BJP for taking their manifesto to the people in a manner that even they couldn’t,” he wrote.
The video has elicited outrage. Nitasha Kaul, a politics professor at London’s Westminster University said on X that the video was a “straightforward 1930s Germany style cartoon”.
In its manifesto for the elections, the Congress has promised to tackle India’s economic inequality by conducting a socio-economic caste census and extending affirmative action. It said it will ensure that minorities receive “their fair share” of education, economic and healthcare opportunities.
An Election Commission spokesperson, the BJP’s Malviya and Congress spokespersons did not respond to requests seeking comment.
FAQs
What are the lively videos shared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday celebration targeting?
The lively movies shared via Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s celebration target the opposition Congress and the Muslim network.
What proceedings and outrage have those animated movies evoked?
These lively films have evoked proceedings and outrage, particularly because of their portrayal of the Congress allegedly favoring the Muslim network over certain disadvantaged tribal and Hindu caste corporations.
What is the Congress’s response to those motion pictures?
The Congress has filed a complaint with the Election Commission, maintaining that the movies goal to incite rioting and promote enmity among religious agencies.
What pointers do political events comply with at some point of the election length?
Political parties follow pointers that limit the advent of “mutual hatred” among caste, spiritual, or linguistic organizations throughout the election period.
What is the focus of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign?
Initially targeted on economic growth and welfare advantages, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign has shifted to polarizing spiritual traces, accusing the Congress of planning to redistribute wealth from majority Hindus to minority Muslims.
Except the FAQs. This report is given by Reuters. The Sen Times holds no responsibility for its content.