The Election Commission has directed social media platform X to immediately take down an animated video post shared by Karnataka unit of the BJP related to Muslim reservation.
The poll panel observed that the animated video was violative of the extant legal framework.
The EC said the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka registered an FIR in this connection and wrote to 'X' on May 5 to take down the objectionable post as per the provisions of the Information Technology Act and the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021.
"However, the post has not been taken down yet. Therefore, 'X' is directed to take down the post immediately," the EC said.
The animated vvideo has targeted the Congress, accusing the grand old party of favouring Muslims over backward classes in reservation and fund allocation.
The Congress had approached the EC with a complaint against Karnataka BJP chief B.Y. Vijayendra, saying the “derogatory” video could lead to law and order issues in the state.
The Congress further alleged that the saffron party wants to "provoke rioting and promote enmity".
The Bengaluru police has filed a case against BJP national president J.P. Nadda, party’s IT cell head Amit Malviya and state president B.Y. Vijayendra.
The Election Commission’s fresh directive to 'X' came on the day votes were being cast in the remaining 14 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. Polling in the other 14 parliamentary constituencies of Karnataka was held on April 26.
