New Delhi: India’s Election Commission issued a directive to social media giant X on Tuesday, urging the removal of a video post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party. This action follows a complaint from the opposition, alleging that the video incited animosity among economically disadvantaged groups.
The order to take down the video, citing a violation of electoral regulations, comes on the heels of a police case filed against leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including the president of its Karnataka state unit, who shared the contentious post.
The animated video, circulated last week amid India’s protracted general election, accused opposition Congress leaders of scheming to extend welfare benefits exclusively to the minority Muslim community, at the expense of other marginalized tribal and Hindu caste groups. Modi, in his pursuit of a third consecutive term, echoed similar sentiments in recent speeches, alleging that Congress intended to redistribute the wealth of the Hindu majority to Muslims, whom he characterized as “infiltrators” with “more children”.
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Congress refutes any such electoral promise. “X is directed to take down the post immediately,” read a letter from the election commission to the social media platform. At the time of writing, there had been no immediate response from X or the BJP.
Critics of Modi accuse him and his party of exploiting anti-Muslim sentiment for electoral advantage, an accusation he denies, maintaining that his government does not discriminate and clarifying that he does not harbor animosity towards the Muslim community or Islam. Despite India being predominantly Hindu, with approximately 80% of its 1.4 billion population adhering to Hinduism, it also boasts the world’s third-largest Muslim populace, numbering around 200 million people.
The video in question depicted a caricature of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi placing a large egg labeled “Muslims” and channeling “funds” to the emerging hatchling, which subsequently displaces three other hatchlings symbolizing disadvantaged groups. Congress, in its complaint to the election body, argued that the post aimed to “intimidate” members of these marginalized groups, dissuading them from voting for the party by insinuating that funds allocated for them would be appropriated by Muslims.
Modi and the BJP have courted controversy with their remarks, purportedly aiming to energize their hardline support base amid lower voter turnout compared to previous elections, according to analysts.
