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Jharkhand: Uproar over hoarding showing Rahul, Kejriwal as demon king Mahishasur
A hoarding in BJP-ruled Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi depicting Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sanjay Nirupam and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal as demon king Mahishasur has led to a political uproar in the state.
A hoarding in BJP-ruled Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi depicting Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sanjay Nirupam and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal as demon king Mahishasur has led to a political uproar in the state.
The hoarding was put up in a prominent place near Yuvraj Palace Hotel in Doranda area of the city and shows Goddess Durga slaying Gandhi, Nirupam and Kejriwal . The poster has caption in Hindi, saying “Mother slaying Kalyugi Mahisasur”.
It did not have the name of any political party or outfit and no one has claimed responsibility for putting it up.
Congress leaders condemned the act and said dragging religion into politics showed the level to which some fringe outfits have stooped to and demanded that the government must take strict action against those who installed it.
“It is simply ridiculous. CCTV cameras are installed in all corners of the city during Durga Puja, still, nobody knows who was responsible for putting up the hoarding. This surprises me and to some extent also indicates that the miscreants may have the government’s support,” state Congress president Sukhdeo Bhagat said.
He said that such incidents violated the basic ethics of politics in India.
Another Congress leader Vinay Sinha said that they would start an agitation after the puja on the issue.
According to local resident Prakash Jha, the hoarding was not there in the area until Monday evening.
BJP leader and state urban development minister CP Singh said that it was a misuse of the right to freedom of speech and expression. Without naming anyone, he, however, pointed out that other groups have indulged in such acts in the past.
Ranchi Police said on Wednesday that no one has lodged any complaint in connection with the hoarding so far.
“People have removed the poster. Police would investigate if anyone lodges an FIR,” the officer-in-charge of Doranda police station said.
