By Muslim Mirror Desk
The Karnataka High Court has stayed the summons issued to BJP chief JP Nadda and IT cell head Amit Malviya in connection with an anti-Muslim campaign video, Live Law reported. However, the court allowed the Karnataka state police to continue their investigation against both leaders.
Justice Krishna S Dixit’s bench heard the matter on Friday based on a plea by Nadda to quash the case. The Karnataka Police had summoned Nadda and Malviya on May 8, following an FIR filed on May 5. The FIR named Nadda, Malviya, and the party’s state chief BY Vijayendra, following a Congress complaint about a video uploaded to the BJP’s Karnataka social media handles on May 4.
The video depicted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi feeding funds to a newborn bird wearing a skullcap, symbolically referring to the Muslim community. As the bird hatched, it pushed away other birds from different communities, followed by laughter. The Congress alleged that the video was managed by Malviya under the direction of Nadda and Vijayendra.
The case was filed under provisions of the Representation of People Act and Indian Penal Code sections relating to creating enmity between communities. The video, urging votes for Modi, demonized Muslims to target the Congress manifesto and was circulated on social media handles of the BJP on May 4, three days before the final round of polling in Karnataka.
The Election Commission responded on May 7, the day of polling, instructing social media platform X to remove the video for violating the legal framework. Another video, distorting statements of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, was also produced by the BJP, claiming that Congress would seize wealth from non-Muslims if elected.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a speech on April 21 in Rajasthan, referred to Muslims as ‘infiltrators’ with more children. The BJP’s campaign further claimed that the Congress party had been empowering such communities, linking historical invasions to current political narratives.
The counsel for Nadda and Malviya argued that national heads should not be held responsible for state unit actions. The bench agreed with the prosecution that the investigation could not be halted but ruled that the investigators should not insist on the personal presence of the accused BJP leaders.