Date: 02-04-2019

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/karnataka-news/karnataka-bjp-leader-ks-eshwarappa-says-muslims-dont-trust-us-so-wont-give-tickets-2016331 ; https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/city/bengaluru/party-wont-give-tickets-to-muslims-says-bjp-leader-ks-eshwarappa/videoshow/68681466.cms?fbclid=IwAR2mrUfwXXkrdN0A8SzsZuYmeIJvSJv7lMZy-O0AQWPqaY988Uf7kimH_vo

Senior BJP leader in Karnataka Mr Eshwarapppa on Monday said that his party will not give tickets to any Muslim candidates because Muslims “don’t trust them”. Addressing members of the Kuruba and minority communities in north Karnataka’s Koppal, the minister said “Congress uses you only as vote bank, doesn’t give you ticket. We won’t give tickets to Muslims in Karnataka. Why? Because you don’t believe in us. Believe us and we’ll give you tickets and other things,”.

The former Deputy Minister of Karnataka has been a controversial figure due to his various statements in the past. In February last year, the politician said that Muslims who are with the Congress “are killers” while those linked with his party are “good Muslims”. In October 2015, he drew criticism when he asked a woman journalist what the opposition can do if “someone drags and rapes” her.

Date: 01-04-2019

Source: https://www.facebook.com/narendramodi/videos/1206465789527079/ ; https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha-2019/pm-modi-maiden-rally-at-wardha-in-maharashtra/article26700497.ece

Constituency: Varanasi, Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held his first campaign rally for 2019 general election in Wardha in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. In his speech, he criticized the Congress party for coining the term “Hindu Terror”. While addressing the crowd, he launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, alluding to the acquittal of those accused in Samjhota Express blast case. He said “The Congress and the NCP can stoop to the lowest level for the sake of vote-bank politics. The Congress attempted to defame crores of Indians by using the term ‘Hindu terror’.” Adding, “How can the Congress be forgiven for insulting Hindus in front of the world? Weren’t you hurt when you heard the term ‘Hindu terror’? How can a community known for peace, brotherhood and harmony be linked with terrorism? In the thousand years of history, not a single incident shows an act of Hindu terrorism. Even the British historians could never find it,”. Implicitly indicating that other religions have shed lot of blood throughout the history.

The Prime Minister went a step further in his criticism saying that Congress is pandering to its Muslim vote bank because it knows it has hurt the Hindu population. He said “It is evident from the fact that one has to contest a seat where the minority is majority,” alluding to the decision of Congress president Rahul Gandhi to contest elections from Kerala’s Wayanad constituency along with Amethi in UP.

With the election date closing in the PM and his party members are aiming to secure the Hindu vote bank. Such statements are usually attempts to build a narrative of ‘Hindus are in danger’ and the opposition will continue to demonize Hindus if elected to power.

Date: 27-03-2019

Source: https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/priyanka-gandhi-is-beautiful-she-should-do-films-shia-waqf-board-chief-booked-for-sexist-comment-2080393.html

General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra when he called her a ‘beautiful lady’ and said that he would have cast her in a lead role in his upcoming movie. He said “She is a beautiful lady. If she had come earlier, I’d cast her as a Muslim woman who is the wife of Jafar Khan in my film Ram Ki Janmabhoomi.” (Birthplace of Ram)

A case has been filed against Rizvi by Youth Congress leader Sharad Shukla. Rizvi has been booked under Sections 354 and 309 of the Indian Penal Code.

Rizvi has a history of issuing controversial statements especially against the Muslim community. He once called for a ban on all madrassas because according to him such institutions produce “terrorists”. Recently Rizvi has produced a film namely “Ram ki Janamboomi”. The film delves into the historic Babri masjid demolition and the ensuing Hindu-Muslims riots. The film explicitly shows Muslims as riot instigators and violence mongers solely responsible for the violence.

Date: 24th March 2019

Constituency: Gorakhphur   

Source:https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/lok-sabha-2019/story/yogi-adityanath-calls-sahranpur-congress-candidate-masood-azhar-s-son-in-law-1485674-2019-03-25

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made a shocking statement by comparing Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad chief, Masood Azhar to the Congress candidate from Saharanpur constituency, Imran Masood. Addressing an election rally in Saharanpur, Sunday, Yogi said “the son-in-law of Azhar Masood has entered the constituency, and is speaking the language of the terror mastermind. You have to decide who wins from Saharanpur — a person who speaks Azhar Masood’s language or a soldier of Modiji”.

Adityanath has stoked many controversies in the past, through his brazen communal rants against minorities, especially Muslims. Earlier, in a similar incident, Adityanath had compared Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan to terror-mastermind, Hafiz Saeed.

Source: https://youtu.be/OhselMEhmnM

Date: 24th March 2019

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/lok-sabha-2019/story/cannot-be-chowkidar-i-am-brahmin-subramanian-swamy-narendra-modi-main-bhi-chowkidar-campaign-1485369-2019-03-24?fbclid=IwAR14I0ij20ee4rdT7lv-pgjBlpq4wGi6TF1EFvd9ytqiPn7SRt_9D_ioeUw

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramaniam Swamy on Sunday made a casteist statement when he said that he cannot be a chowkidar (guard) because he is a Brahmin. Commenting on why he did not prefix ‘Chowkidaar’ to his Twitter handle as PM Modi and other BJP leaders have done, Swamy said in an interview to a Tamil TV Channel, “I cannot become a Chowkidar because I am Brahmin. Brahmins can’t be chowkidars. It’s a fact. I will give orders that the Chowkidars have to execute. That’s what everyone expects from the appointed Chowkidars. So, I cannot be one.”

Swamy’s comment comes after a social media campaign run by BJP in which party members and supporters are changing their profile names by adding the prefix “Chowkidar”, as a counter to the Congress campaign of “Chowkidar chor hain”. (The guard is the thief)

Swamy’s statement is sordid reminder of the historical prejudice based on caste which has been endemic to Indian society. Through this statement caste based biases – assigning ‘lowly’ and hazardous jobs to people of the disempowered castes – are reinforced.

The MP was earlier booked for allegedly making hate speech in Assam in 2015. He has also challenged the constitutional validity of Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code which criminalises promoting enmity between groups.

Date: 24th March 2019

Source: https://www.facebook.com/ANINEWS.IN/videos/vb.140763992703039/311469769551817/?type=2&theater ; https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/lok-sabha-2019/story/sapna-chaudhary-sonia-gandhi-bjp-mla-surendra-singh-1485287-2019-03-24

Constituency: Rohaniya Legislative Assembly, Uttar Pradesh

BJP MLA Surendra Narayan Singh was reported having made sexist remarks at popular dancer Sapna Choudhary, after it was reported that the latter had joined the Congress party. The MLA from UP said that “Rahul’s mother was also in the same profession (dancer) in Italy and how his father made her his own, he should also take the family tradition forward and make Sapna his own”.

The BJP MLA said ” the party is taking forward the tradition of marrying in dancers as was done by Rahul’s father Rajeev Gandhi by marrying Sonia Gandhi”. He continued that “Indian politics will never accept dancers to lead the nation as against a “charitravaan” (with character) and “imaandar” (honest) leader like Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

Sapna Choudhary has since denied joining the Congress.

Surendra Singh had a few days earlier also made sexist remarks against Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati, saying that as she does facials every day and also colours her hair, she has no right to attack PM Modi.

Date: 22nd March 2019

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/elections/article/karnataka-jds-mla-km-shivalinge-gowda-slap-pm-modi-supporters-bjp-congress-bengaluru-2019-general-elections-polls-mandya-kalaburgi-seats/388028

JDS MLA KM Shivalinge Gowda made a shocking statement 22nd March 2019, in a gathering at arasikere in Karnataka where he called out for direct violence against supporters of the ruling BJP. Gowda said “Crush the jaws of those who come and shout–Modi-Modi.”
While addressing the gathering Gowda launched a series of scathing
attacks on PM Modi and his failed economic policies but he also went a step further
in his criticism and called for violence against Modi’s supporters.

Date: 21-03-2019

Source: https://twitter.com/Tejasvi_Surya/status/1108973963747614720 ; https://www.sabrangindia.in/article/if-you-are-anti-modi-then-you-are-anti-india-bjp-candidate-tejasvi-surya

Constituency: Bengaluru South, Karnataka

Tejasvi Surya, the 28 year old BJP candidate from Bengaluru South, stoked a controversy on 22^nd March 2019 when he called those people voting against PM Narendra Modi as ‘anti-India’. Addressing a gathering in the state, he said “This election is a test of the common Indian’s patriotism, and if you are with Modi, you are with India, if you are not with Modi, you are anti-India, that’s it.”

The Congress party has already filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Surya in this regard.

The young BJP candidate used a common rhetoric in which being ‘anti-Modi’ is deemed as ‘anti-India’ by the right wing forces. Thus Modi regime successfully undermines as well as demonizes any opposition to its policies by equating nationalism and patriotism with support for the incumbent government and its policies. Surya is also known for misrepresenting facts in his speeches and interviews.

Date: 18th March 2019

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-2019-culture-minister-mahesh-sharma-calls-priyanka-gandhi-vadra-pappus-pappi-2009326

Constituency: Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida) Parliamentary constituency, Uttar Pradesh.

Union minister Mahesh Sharma made a misogynistic remark against Congress party leader Priyanka Gandhi at an event in Uttar Pradesh when he called her “Pappu’s Pappi”. (Pappu’s kiss). The minister said “Pappu says he wants to become Prime Minister. So there is Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav, Pappu and now, Pappu’s Pappi has also stepped in. That Priyanka, was she not the daughter of our country earlier? Was she not the daughter of the Congress? Was she not the daughter of the Sonia (Gandhi) family earlier. What new has she brought?””

The Union Minister of State for Culture (IC) and MoS for Environment, Forest and Climate Change had earlier declared that the BJP does not support derogatory comments against any daughter of India.

Another BJP minister, Vinod Narayan Jha, from Bihar, similarly devalued the Congress leader as having no political achievement or talent, other than being beautiful.

Date: 11th March 2019

Source: https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/how-does-the-son-of-a-muslim-become-a-brahmin-anantkumar-hegdes-shocker-on-rahul-gandhi/articleshow/68359043.cms

India Today TV video link

Constituency: Uttara Kannada Parliamentary constituency, Karnataka

Union minister Anantkumar Hegde of Karnataka stirred a controversy when he raised questions on Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s caste and religion.

The Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship remarked on the Congress party questioning the effectiveness of the recent airstrikes against Pakistan, “Look what situation they have brought our country down to. The entire world is acknowledging our bravery. But some people within our own country have raised doubts. They want proof for our IAF’s air strikes against Pakistan but how did the son of a Muslim become a Brahmin named Gandhi? What proof do they have? He was born to a Muslim father and Christian mother. How does he become a Brahmin?”

Anantkumar has been a divisive figure because of his polarising statements. Last year he had made a contentious remark on “changing the constitution” of India. In another more recent incident, he referred to Dalit protestors as ‘dogs’.

Anantkumar, a member of right wing groups Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad has earlier also been booked for hate speech for hurting religious sentiments of Muslims when in March 2016 he allegedly said in a press conference “as long as there is Islam in this world, there will be terrorism”.