May 7th 2024.
On Tuesday, the Election Commission issued a directive to the social media platform 'X' to remove an animated video shared by the Karnataka unit of the BJP. The video had caused controversy due to its content about the reservation for the Muslim community. In a letter to the platform's nodal officer, the EC expressed concern over the lack of compliance with the directive from the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer to take down the video.
The Election Commission stated that the video violated the existing legal framework and the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka had even registered an FIR in this regard. On May 5, the officer had written to 'X' to remove the objectionable post in accordance with the provisions of the Information Technology Act and the IT Rules 2021. However, the post remained on the platform, prompting the EC to issue a fresh directive to remove it immediately.
Interestingly, this directive comes on the same day when the remaining 14 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka are going to polls. The polling for the other 14 constituencies had taken place on April 26. The Karnataka Congress had previously lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer, alleging that the BJP was promoting animosity and hatred between the Muslim and SC/ST communities.
The complaint was in reference to an animated video shared by the Karnataka BJP, which depicted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. In the video, the two leaders were shown placing an egg labelled as 'Muslim' in a bird's nest. When the egg hatched, Gandhi was shown feeding 'funds' to the 'Muslim' hatchling while the others struggled for it. As a result, the 'Muslim' hatchling grew and pushed the three others, representing SC, ST, and OBC communities, out of the nest while Gandhi and Siddaramaiah laughed.
The Election Commission's directive to remove the video serves as a reminder to all political parties to refrain from spreading hate and animosity during the election season. The Commission is committed to ensuring a fair and peaceful election, and any violation of the law will be dealt with strictly.
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