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Journalism of Courage
This is an archive article published on May 7, 2024
Remove BJP tweet targeting Muslims, Karnataka police issue notice to X
In its notice, the police said that the Election Commission has directed that the animated video posted by the BJP state unit be removed as it violated the Model Code of Conduct.
The cybercrime division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) issued the notice on May 5 after the Election Commission (EC) wrote a letter to the police on the same day, asking them to initiate action. (File)
The Karnataka Police issued a notice to social media platform X, asking it to take down an animated video posted by the BJP state unit targeting Muslims, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The cybercrime division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) issued the notice on May 5 after the Election Commission (EC) wrote a letter to the police on the same day, asking them to initiate action. The Karnataka Congress had on Sunday filed a complaint with the EC in connection with the video.
In the notice, the superintendent of police of the cybercrime division, CID, Karnataka, who has been designated as the state nodal officer for disabling or taking down unlawful content online, stated, “Election Commission has directed to remove the alleged content from internet as it violates Model Code of Conduct (MCC) enforced during Loksabha Elections 2024. In this regard, you are hereby directed to take down the content under the following URL/Links with immediate effect, as the content is in violation of section 123 (3) of RP act, 1951.”
According to Section 123 (3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, “the appeal by a candidate or his agent or by any other person with the consent of a candidates or his election agent to vote or refrain from voting for any person on the ground of his religion, race, caste, community or language or the use of, or appeal to religious symbols or the use of, or appeal to, national symbols, such as the national flag or the national emblem, for the furtherance of the prospects of the election of that candidate or for prejudicially affecting the election of any candidate.”
However, X is yet to take down the tweet which has garnered 9.2 million views and 13,000 retweets.
The High Grounds police in Bengaluru had registered a case against BJP national president J P Nadda, IT cell head Amit Malviya and state president B Y Vijayendra under Section 125 (Promoting or attempting to promote on ground of religion, race, caste, community or language, feeling of enmity or hatred, between different classes of the citizens of India) of the Representation of People Act and Section 505 (2) (Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill will between classes) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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