Modi's party tweets violent Islamophobic caricature, sparks outrage
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One of India's largest political parties - the BJP - tweeted an image that could only be interpreted to spark deeper sectarian divides in India.
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Narendra Modi's party's Islamophobic tweet.
Indian PM Narendra Modi's ruling party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), tweeted an Islamophobic picture on their official Twitter account. The image violently depicted a group of Muslim men being hung by a single noose; the image was taken down by Twitter for violating the community guidelines.
The caricature, which sparked major backlash, was released on Friday when 38 people were sentenced to death in association with the 2008 Ahmedabad blasts court case. Those accused belonged to a group called "Indian Mujahideens."
The image donned a caption: “Satyamev Jayate [Truth alone triumphs]. No mercy to the perpetrators of terror.”
The caricature, however, could still be seen on Facebook and Instagram. Though the image was reported by many people on Facebook, the site stated that it does not violate its community standards.
The image, which was a blatant attack on Muslims, picked up strong reactions on Twitter. Many called the group out for inciting violence in exchange for votes, as the Indian elections are coming soon.
Read more: Anti-Muslim politician with criminal record could be India's next PM
The group was also held responsible for communal violence and hate-mongering, which contribute to genocide. One user urged the international community to condemn this move, and called it a "shocking act."
In response, Yagnesh Dave, BJP's media convenor, said that the image was not made to target a specific community but rather to convey the coverage pertaining to accused convicts.
India's Congress party spokesperson, Manish Doshi, responded to the act, saying that the image was BJP's image was an attempt at polarization.
“No party should engage in politics on court judgments in sensitive cases. The BJP seeks to polarise people in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh," Doshi said. "Terrorism has no religion."
The BJP is India's current ruling party under Modi's rule, and has made recent laws which have promoted Islamophobia, including a ban on wearing the hijab in classrooms.
Read more: India's hijab ban furthers religious divide
Such laws have raised worries that sectarian tension may be on the rise in India, particularly in Karnataka, which has spread onto Uttar Pradesh, a region that has witnessed protests against the hijab recently.
"The hate speech is stoking communal tensions in India where small triggers have incited mass-death tragedies," a New York Times reporter wrote recently, pointing out that Modi and his entourage are intentionally silent about the matter.
