Jharkhand Elections 2024 | EC asks to take down 'communal' videos after Congress' complaint over BJP's 'divisive campaign'

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Sunday asked poll authorities in Jharkhand to initiate action against Jharkhand BJP for an objectionable video posted on its social media handles following complaints by Congress and JMM, which claimed it were "communal, divisive and malicious".

After receiving the complaints earlier in the day, the EC examined it and found the social media posts to be prima facie violative of the Model Code of Conduct and asked the Chief Electoral Officer of Jharkhand to take immediate action as per “existing laws and procedures” and then direct the social media platforms to take those down.

The CEO has also been asked to serve a show cause notice to Jharkhand BJP in this issue.

Approaching the EC, the Congress demanded the blocking of Facebook and 'X' accounts of Jharkhand BJP and passing an order to have all "communal, divisive and malicious" videos posted on its social media handles be taken down.

The demand came in a complaint filed by Party General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh against Jharkhand BJP for posting a video on its social media handles, which it said propagates "false narrative" against a religious community.

He also wanted the EC to intervene to take action against the Jharkhand BJP for not taking down a video against which Congress had filed a complaint. A case was registered in this instance on the orders of the EC.

In his complaint, Ramesh said they were approaching the EC with a second complaint as a new video has been uploaded on social media by the BJP in which I.N.D.I.A. bloc partner JMM was shown in a bad light, suggesting that it was favouring a minority community. The video also had an actor resembling Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

"The malafide motive and messaging behind the video is very clear...In the absence of any orders or directions against them (in the first case), the BJP and its state unit have become emboldened to act with such impunity," he said.

Earlier on On November 10, the Congress had approached the EC against a BJP video for Jharkhand elections, which it claimed made allegations against top leaders of JMM, Congress and RJD, including that they were anti-tribals. An FIR was registered in this incident.

Ramesh claimed that the latest video was uploaded with the sole purpose of unduly influencing voters and dissuading them from voting for any Opposition party.

The portrayal of members belonging to a particular religious minority community is clearly intended to "propagate a narrative that has been a consistent part of the BJP's communal electoral campaign".

Besides seeking a direction to block social media handles of Jharkhand BJP, the Congress also wants the EC to pass an order to delete all "communal, divisive and malicious" videos and register an FIR against those involved in handling social media handles.

Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.

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