BJP's new campaign video seeks 'ouster' of anti-CAA protesters
Unrest prevails in the national capital with successive shooting instances but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not dousing the fire. The party has instead released a new campaign song, ahead of Delhi polls, instigating the public to evict protesters out of Delhi.
“Samay aa gaya chalo nikalein Dilli se dharne waalon ko (It’s time to remove the protests out from Delhi”, is the opening line of the two-minute video song released by the BJP on social media platforms.
The song further takes a dig at Shaheen Bagh protests, where thousands of women are staging a continuous sit-in protest against the CAA. It says, “Delhi, give an answer to those who love Shaheen Bagh and may those who fight for India come to power.”
Time and again, the Prime Minister and his party have conveniently used the phrase ‘Urban Naxals’ and ‘Anti-nationals’ to attack Left-liberals and activists to dismiss criticism, so does this campaign song. The song attacks those who empower ‘Urban Naxals.’ “Why should such anti-nationals be given the power to govern”, it asks.
The video song shows protestors raising their voice against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens. Using the phrase ‘tukde tukde gang,’ another of BJP’s phrases to attack critics, the song shows Jawaharlal Nehru University protesters and leaders like Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid.
Hate speech consequences
Last week, BJP leaders Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma were banned from campaigning for three days, after their provocative statements during an election rally.
Thakur, who was campaigning for BJP candidate Manish Chaudhary, was seen chanting “desh ke gaddaron ko” in a viral video, to which the crowd replied “Goli Maaro Saalon Ko (Shoot the traitors).” Verma too had made controversial remarks, claiming those who have staged month-long protests at Shaheen Bagh “will enter your houses, rape your sisters and daughters.” On Februray 1, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath too spoke in the favour of using bullets to tackle protesters.
Following these hate-filled remarks, Delhi has witnessed multiple shootings. On Monday (February 3), the Delhi police registered a case against two unidentified people who allegedly opened fire outside Jamia Millia Islamia on Sunday (February 2) night, police said. No one was injured in the attack.
On January 30, a minor fired at anti-CAA protesters near Jamia Millia Islamia University, injuring a student. Two days later, a 25-year-old fired two rounds in the air at Shaheen Bagh.
