The communal hatred towards the Muslim community has been at the core of BJP propaganda in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, as has been the case earlier as well.
Despite the Election Commission's big claims that it would curb hate speech, and divisive, and polarizing rhetoric, and despite actions and initiatives by political parties, individuals, and groups, the BJP has been the only party to escape such scrutiny and continue with its outright attack on the Muslim community, labelling them as infiltrators, producers of more children, terrorists, robbers, and thieves.
In an animated video, which has now been removed from Instagram, the BJP referred to Muslims as the favourite community of the Congress party, whose aim is to snatch the wealth of Hindus and redistribute it to Muslims, a claim first made by Narendra Modi in Rajasthan during an election campaign.
Critics condemned the BJP's divisive tactics, accusing the party of promoting communal disharmony and violating electoral codes. Despite mounting pressure, the Election Commission faced criticism for its perceived inaction against the BJP's communal campaigning, which contravenes the Model Code of Conduct and the Representation of the People Act.
The video, which directly targeted Muslims, accused the Congress party of harbouring intentions to redistribute wealth from non-Muslims to Muslims if elected. It depicted Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress party, holding a manifesto that transformed into a green-coloured flag adorned with a crescent and star, widely associated with Islamic symbolism.
Modi's remarks, coupled with the inflammatory content of the video, ignited concerns about the BJP's campaign tactics and its potential to sow division along religious lines.
Critics were to point out the video's distortion of remarks made by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2006. Singh's statement about prioritizing resources for marginalized groups, including minorities like Muslims, was taken out of context and mischaracterized in the video to fuel anti-Muslim sentiment.
The BJP's video also drew parallels between historical events and current political narratives, depicting a caricatured version of India's past as "rich and prosperous," juxtaposed with imagery of Muslims depicted as looters and desecrators of temples. Such imagery, critics argue, not only perpetuates harmful stereotypes but also reinforces a divisive and exclusionary narrative.
Social media users condemned the video, labelling it as hate speech and reporting it to Instagram. However, it remains unclear whether the BJP voluntarily removed the post or if Instagram took action to delete it.
The controversy surrounding the video has reignited debates about the BJP's electoral strategy, which has frequently involved invoking Hindu religious imagery and making divisive statements. Critics have accused the party of exploiting religious sentiments to polarize voters and consolidate support among its Hindu nationalist base.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has faced scrutiny for its response to such incidents. While the ECI issued a notice to the BJP's president, JP Nadda, regarding the speech of a "star campaigner," it notably omitted any direct mention of Modi or the inflammatory claims made in his speeches. This selective approach has raised questions about the ECI's effectiveness in addressing hate speech and maintaining impartiality during the election process.
Legal experts have warned that the ECI's silence on such matters could embolden further instances of hate speech and divisive rhetoric, setting a dangerous precedent for future elections. Sanjay Hegde, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court, emphasized the importance of the ECI taking decisive action to deter such behaviour and uphold the principles of fair campaigning.