Desperate BJP again makes Islamophobic, 'false' claims, then deletes

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: As if Prime Minister Modi’s divisive rhetoric in Rajasthan last week wasn't enough, the BJP took to its official Instagram handle to share an animated video reportedly riddled with Islamophobic content and false accusations.

Posted on Tuesday, April 30, the now-deleted video depicts Muslims as the "favourite community" of the Congress party and alleges that a Congress-led government would redistribute wealth from non-Muslims to Muslims.

While Modi's recent speech in Banswara referred to Muslims as "infiltrators" and "those who have more children," this video takes direct aim at the Muslim community, branding Congress' manifesto as "Muslim League's ideology in disguise."

In the animated video, Rahul Gandhi is depicted holding the "Congress manifesto," which transforms into a green-colored flag featuring a crescent and star, commonly associated with Islamic symbolism.

“Here is the absolute reality. If the Congress Party comes to power, it will snatch all the money and wealth of non-Muslims and distribute it to Muslims. Their favourite community! It is a fact that once Manmohan Singh said that Muslims have the first claim on our resources,” the video claims.

This has already been pointed out as a false claim. Modi has been distorting the remarks made by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2006.

Singh had emphasised that marginalised communities such as SC/STs, other backward classes, minorities, women, and children should be prioritised in resource allocation for the sake of achieving equitable development.

In a sharp criticism, journalist and author Rana Ayyub said, “At no point since he became the Prime Minister did Narendra Modi promise that his policies had changed since the 2002 anti-Muslim carnage. He is doing today what he did yesterday, you wanted to move on, he never did.”

In an animation that looks more like a cartoon, the video shows temples and a woman like a queen, wearing lots of gold jewellery and says, “Ancient India was really beautiful. We were so rich and prosperous that each and every average citizen had plenty of gold. Plenty of wealth. Plenty of riches.”

Then comes the visuals of Muslim men on horses and the voice-over says that because of our prosperity, “invaders, terrorists, robbers and thieves used to come again and again, used to loot all our treasures. They used to redistribute the loot among themselves. And on top of that, they used to ruin our temples. And the Congress Party has been empowering people who belong to the very same community.”

If this is not clear enough that the BJP is making a targeted attack, the next statement in the video would do so.

“Congress party’s manifesto is nothing but the Muslim League’s ideology in disguise. If you are a non-Muslim, Congress will snatch your wealth and distribute it to Muslims."

Critics have condemned the BJP's consistent use of religious rhetoric and divisive messaging, calling out the Election Commission of India for its failure to address such inflammatory content.