FIR against BJP leaders for alleged intimidation of SC/ST voters
An FIR has been registered against BJP president J P Nadda, the party's IT cell head Amit Malviya, and Karnataka unit chief B Y Vijayendra in connection with a social media post allegedly intimidating members of the SC and ST community not to vote for a particular candidate.
The action was taken following a complaint lodged by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) with the Election Commission and police on Sunday alleging violation of the model code of conduct.
The complaint cited a video uploaded on the social media platform 'X' by the official account of Karnataka State BJP, which it alleged is operated by Malviya on instructions of Nadda, Vijayendra, and Social Media incharge - Karnataka BJP, on May 4.
The video allegedly featured animated characters of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. In the clip, the SC, ST, and OBC community are portrayed as "eggs" in a nest, and it also suggested Rahul Gandhi planting a big egg labelled as the Muslim community. It is projected as though funds are being fed to the chick depicting the Muslim community, which then kicks out SC, ST, and OBC communities.
The complaint alleged that the act of the accused persons is to wantonly provoke rioting and promote enmity between different religions and is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony apart from intimidating members of the SC/ST community not to vote for a particular candidate and causing enmity against members of the SC/ST community.
The accused have been 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.