BJP’s election videos targeting Muslims, opposition spark outrage
New Delhi: Animated videos shared by Modi’s Hindu fanatic BJP targeting Muslims, Christians and political opposition Congress have evoked complaints and outrage, as the political climate in India heats up midway through its six-week long election.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the malicious videos, shared by the ruling extremist BJP on social media platforms like 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 that the video has been shared “clearly with an intention to wantonly provocative 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, such as fake videos showing top Bollywood stars criticizing the prime minister.
On Monday, the commission warned parties against the misuse of AI tools to create deep fakes and told them not to publish and circulate such videos. It also said parties had been directed to remove such content within three hours of it being brought to their notice.
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.
