NEW DELHI: An online advertisement linked to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has drawn widespread condemnation for promoting anti-Muslim sentiment ahead of the ongoing elections in Jharkhand state.
The 53 second-video, shows a group of Muslims—men and children wearing skullcaps and women in burqas—arriving at a seemingly upper-middle-class home. The residents, who are enjoying a meal and listening to music, are interrupted by a knock at the door.
When the man opens it, the group shoves him aside and enters the house, forcibly taking control of the radio and soiling the furniture.
A woman in the video is shown closing her nose, symbolising disgust towards the perceived “impurity” of the intruders. The scene is accompanied by a caption on the wall showing with the words: “We will change the look of Jharkhand.”
The BJP’s spokesman Shahdev defended the video, claiming that it was intended to illustrate the “horrific” consequences of forced invasions of homes by outsiders.
He said, “When the Election Commission instructed, we took it down. We did not post the video to hurt the sentiments of any community.” Despite this, the video has stirred significant political and social unrest, particularly among Jharkhand’s Muslim population.
Mehbooba Mufti, leader of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP), also condemned the ad, describing it as “deplorably communal” and a threat to India’s secular foundation.
“BJP’s campaign in Jharkhand would make the Kashmiri leadership turn in their graves,” she wrote. Mufti highlighted the vision of a pluralistic India where all religions coexist, contrasting this with the divisive tactics used by the BJP.
In response to the uproar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) intervened, ordering the removal of the video from the BJP’s social media platforms.
The commission stated that the video violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which governs election-related campaigns. The ECI directed Jharkhand’s Chief Electoral Officer to ensure the video’s prompt removal, which the BJP complied with, taking it down from all online platforms.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of Islamophobic rhetoric associated with BJP campaigns. In September, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah referred to Bangladeshis and Rohingyas as “infiltrators,” further stoking tensions.
During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP’s social media channels shared inflammatory content, including animations that suggested Congress was enabling Muslim dominance over other communities. These posts were later removed following backlash and police action.
The latest controversy highlights growing concerns about the BJP’s use of divisive narratives in its political campaigns, especially as tensions rise between Hindu and Muslim communities in India.
The party’s portrayal of Muslims as a threat to national unity has drawn sharp criticism from both domestic and international observers, who accuse the BJP of undermining India’s secular ideals. –Agencies
