Lok Sabha Elections 2024 | Bengaluru police book Nadda, BJP IT cell chief, Karnataka BJP chief over 'provocative' video

The action was taken following a complaint lodged by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee with the Election Commission and police.

Bengaluru: Bengaluru police have registered an FIR against BJP president JP Nadda, the party's IT cell chief Amit Malviya and Karnataka state party chief B Y Vijayendra for posting a video on social media that allegedly shows the Congress favouring Muslims in reservation policies. 

The case was registered under IPC sections 125 (promoting enmity between classes in connection with election) of the Representation of the People Act and 505(2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) at the High Grounds police station following a complaint from the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Sunday. 

The Congress said the BJP’s act would “provocate rioting and promote enmity between different religions” apart from “intimidating the members of the SC/ST community not to vote for a particular candidate”.

Its complaint to the Chief Electoral Officer said the animated video posted on X by the official handle of the Karnataka BJP portrayed SC/ST and OBC communities as “eggs” in a nest.

The clip suggested that Rahul Gandhi was planting a big egg labelled as the Muslim community.

“It is projected as though the funds are being fed to the Muslim community, which then kicks the SC/ST and OBC communities out of the nest,” the complaint said, adding that the characters of Rahul and Siddaramaiah tried to suggest the Congress was favouring a particular religion.

“It is clear that this post by the BJP is to intimidate the members of the SC/ST community not to vote for the Congress by projecting that the funds reserved for them will be usurped by Muslims.”

The Congress further argued that the BJP has been seeking votes in the Lok Sabha elections by falsely accusing the party of including Muslims in the OBC category.