BJP leader R Ashoka refuses vermillion on forehead; Cong calls it proof of BJP's religious hypocrisy
Bengaluru: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader R Ashok's recent decision to refuse the application of vermillion (kumkum) on his forehead during a visit to Kalaburagi has sparked controversy and drawn criticism from rival political parties after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
Ashok visited the BJP office in Sulepet, Chincholi taluk, Kalaburagi district, on Sunday, where a senior member attempted to apply vermillion on his forehead. However, Ashok stopped the member and declined the gesture with a clear "No." The video clip capturing Ashok's refusal quickly circulated on social media platforms, garnering attention and criticism.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly's refusal to wear vermillion has prompted accusations of religious hypocrisy against the BJP, particularly from the Karnataka unit of the Congress. Taking to their official social media account, the Congress shared the video clip, questioning whether Ashok harbored an aversion or allergy to vermillion. The party accused the BJP of engaging in religious theatrics while practicing hypocrisy.
ALSO READ: Section of JD(S) workers in Channapatna oppose Kumaraswamy's likely move to contest from Mandya
The Congress further claimed that saffron shawls and vermillion are tools utilized by the BJP to mislead the youth of the nation, suggesting that the BJP's leaders prefer makeup over traditional religious practices.
"Bommai wiped away with full force the vermillion applied while Ashok totally rejected it. Do your (BJP) leaders prefer make-up, instead of vermillion?" the party has mockingly asked BJP Karnataka unit.
,@RAshokaBJP ಅವರಿಗೆ
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) March 25, 2024
ಕುಂಕುಮ ಎಂದರೆ ಅಲರ್ಜಿಯೇ, ಅಸಹ್ಯವೇ?
ಕುಂಕುಮ ಹಚ್ಚಲು ಬಂದರೆ ಹೌಹಾರಿ ನಿರಾಕರಿಸುವ ಅಶೋಕ್ ಅವರ ಮೂಲಕ ಬಿಜೆಪಿಯವರ ಬೂಟಾಟಿಕೆಯ ಹುಸಿ ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕತೆ ನಾಟಕ ಬಯಲಾಗಿದೆ.
ಕೇಸರಿ ಶಾಲು, ಕುಂಕುಮ ಮುಂತಾದವುಗಳು ಬಿಜೆಪಿಗರ ಯುವ ಸಮುದಾಯವನ್ನು ದಿಕ್ಕು ತಪ್ಪಿಸುವ ಟೂಲ್ ಕಿಟ್ ಹೊರತು ಬಿಜೆಪಿಗರ ಅಸಲಿ ಆಚರಣೆಯಲ್ಲ.… pic.twitter.com/5ar2CQEq5a
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Misuse of power, money to control election mechanism seen during Maharashtra polls: Sharad Pawar
Pune (PTI): NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday claimed the misuse of power and money to control the entire election mechanism, which was never before seen in any state assembly or national polls, was witnessed in Maharashtra.
Pawar made the statement when he visited senior activist Dr Baba Adhav, who is protesting against the alleged "misuse of EVMs" in the recent state polls in Maharashtra.
Adhav, who is in his 90s, began his three-day protest at Phule Wada, the residence of social reformer Jyotiba Phule, in the city on Thursday.
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies, the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), have been alleging manipulation of EVMs in the recently held Maharashtra Assembly elections, which saw a landslide victory by the Mahayuti.
The Mahayuti, comprising the Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP, won 230 out of 288 assembly seats in the November 20 polls, while the MVA managed just 46 seats.Talking to reporters, Pawar said elections were conducted recently in the country, and there is a restlessness among the people about these.
Baba Adhav's agitation represents this restlessness, he said.
He said, "There is a murmur among the people that the recent polls in Maharashtra saw 'misuse of power' and 'floods of money', which was never seen in the past. Such things are heard of in local-level polls, but taking over the entire election mechanism with the help of money and misuse of power was not seen before. However, we witnessed it in Maharashtra, and people are restless now."
He added that people were recalling late socialist ideologue Jaiprakash Narayan and felt somebody should take a step forward.
"I heard Baba Adhav has taken a lead into this issue and is agitating at Phule Wada. His protest gives hope to the people, but it is not enough. A mass revolt is necessary, as the danger of the parliamentary democracy getting destroyed looms," Pawar said.
The former Union minister said those who have reins of the country in their hands are least bothered about this.
"Despite widespread discussion over it (alleged misuse of EVMs) in the country, whenever the opposition tries to raise the issue in the Parliament, they are not allowed to speak. Opposition leaders have been seeking an opportunity to speak on these issues for six days, but their demands have not been accepted even once. It shows they want to attack parliamentary democracy," he claimed.
He said Dr Adhav's protest is a fine example of someone revolting against the issue and expressed confidence that his protest will create a ripple effect.
