JOIN USMembers of the Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee staged a protest against BJP on Tuesday for using photographs of gods in the election publicity banners. They demonstrated in front of the DC's office in Mangaluru.
The Congress condemned the use of photographs of demi god and gods in the campaign banners by the BJP.
Addressing the protesters, District-in-Charge Minister B Ramanath Rai challenged the BJP to field a candidate from Billava community in the next elections. The use of photographs of demi gods is an insult to members of the Billava community in the district.
"The Congress condemns the use of photographs of Koti Chennaiah in publicity banners. The BJP is dividing the society in the name of Hindutva. Their dream of winning the election by using the photographs of Koti Chennaiah will not be fulfilled. It is the poor who are facing the hardship after the BJP came to power in the Centre. We condemn the cheap politics being played by the BJP to appease members of the backward community."
DCC president Harish Kumar said, "By using the photograph of Koti Chennaiah, the BJP is playing politics. In the name of Rama, they had raised funds for the construction of mandira and used it for publicity as well. By instigating communal issues, the BJP is misleading the youth. Demanding the Election Commission to initiate action for using the photograph of Koti Chennaiah in publicity banners, the DCC submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner," he said.
Chief Whip of Government in Legislative Council Ivan D'Souza said the use of photographs of gods and goddesses by a political party is against the interest of the Constitution. When a political party is registered with the Election Commission of India, a declaration to uphold the spirit of Constitution is submitted. However, the BJP does not believe in principles of secularism, he alleged.