Bengaluru: A political controversy has erupted in Karnataka after the Karnataka BJP’s official social media handle (@BJP4Karnataka) allegedly shared a post comparing former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. Following a formal complaint by a Congress leader, an FIR was registered on June 25 at High Grounds Police Station, Bengaluru.
The complaint was filed by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) General Secretary S. Manohar, who accused the BJP of using its verified ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) handle to circulate defamatory content against Indira Gandhi, who served as India’s Prime Minister during the controversial Emergency period (1975–77).
The now-deleted post, uploaded at 3:54 PM on Wednesday, featured a caption stating:
“INDIRA ≠ INDIA, INDIRA = HITLER”
and included a 38-second video referencing the Emergency era. The video reportedly contained morphed visuals of Indira Gandhi, portraying her in a style resembling Adolf Hitler.
Legal Action Initiated
“Based on the complaint received, a case has been registered under Section 192 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and Section 353 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS),” said a senior police official.
Police officials confirmed that further investigation is underway, and the origins of the post and those responsible for uploading it are being probed.
Congress Alleges Provocation and Hate Speech
In his complaint, S. Manohar alleged that the BJP’s post was not only slanderous towards a former Prime Minister, but also designed to provoke unrest and create communal tension. He claimed the content could incite hatred between communities and undermine public peace.
The Congress party has demanded stringent action against those managing the BJP’s digital communications and accused the party of resorting to historical distortion for political mileage.
BJP Silent as Opposition Demands Apology
As of Thursday evening, the Karnataka BJP had not issued any official response or apology, although the post in question was quietly removed from their feed. Opposition leaders have seized upon the incident to target the BJP for spreading misinformation, while political observers note that it reflects the increasing use of provocative digital content in electoral strategy.
The timing of the post—close to the Emergency anniversary (June 25)—has also drawn attention, as both the Congress and BJP regularly trade barbs over the legacy of the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975.
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