KARNATAKA POLICE SUMMONS BJP LEADERS JP NADDA, AMIT MALVIYA OVER SOCIAL MEDIA POST ALLEGEDLY TARGETING SC/ST COMMUNITY

NEW DELHI: Karnataka Police has summoned BJP National President JP Nadda and party member Amit Malviya to Bengaluru's High Grounds police station, asking them to appear in connection with a tweet posted by BJP Karnataka that allegedly targeted the SC/ST community.

"For the purpose of investigation of the said case, you are hereby directed to appear before the undersigned investigation officer at 11 am at High grounds police station within seven days of receipt of this notice," the summons read.

The police on Tuesday had directed social media platform X to remove the animated video shared by the BJP state unit.

This comes after the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) had asked the Election Commission to take action against JP Nadda and other BJP leaders over alleged violation of the model code of conduct. The video posted on social media, according to the party, allegedly intimidated SC and ST members against voting for a specific candidate.

In their complaint to the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer, the Congress highlighted a video uploaded on a social media platform by the official account of Karnataka State Bharatiya Janata Party, managed by Amit Malviya. The video, allegedly posted on the instructions of JP Nadda, BJP national president, B Y Vijayendra, BJP state president, and social media incharge- Karnataka BJP, was posted on May 4.

According to the Congress, their manifesto does not propose diverting funds from SC, ST, and OBC communities to the Muslim community, as claimed by the BJP. They accused the BJP of spreading false information during the Lok Sabha elections to solicit votes.

KPCC further alleged that the video was disseminated through the BJP's official social media handle with the intention of influencing votes in the Lok Sabha polls.

(With agency inputs)