BJP's DK candidate Brijesh Chowta criticized for using children in election campaign
Using children in election campaigning amounts to violation of Code of Conduct
Mangaluru: Social media users have raised objections to a post by BJP’s Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha polls candidate Brijesh Chowta on X, wherein he shared a picture of himself alongside a group of minors adorned in saffron shawls.
The post has sparked controversy, with social activists questioning the appropriateness of involving children in political activities. The image depicts Chowta alongside 10 individuals, all wearing saffron shawls, among whom at least six appear to be minors.
Chowta captioned the post as 'A Fouji’s paltan' and included hashtags such as 'Prachara Payana' and 'Dakshina Kannada'. Several commenters on the post have criticized the use of children for election campaigning, citing it as a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
ALSO READ: Attack of Dalit woman in Manipal for feeding stray dogs: Accused sent to judicial custody
Responding to the incident, D K Child Welfare Committee President Renni D’Souza highlighted that the Election Commission has explicitly stated that children should never be utilized for election campaigns.
A Fauji’s paltan 😊 #ಪ್ರಚಾರಪಯಣ #DakshinaKannada pic.twitter.com/f0Gr7IdVl4
— Captain Brijesh Chowta (Modi Ka Parivar) (@CaptBrijesh) March 23, 2024
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.
Fighting against Joshi's divisive tactics, oppression of Veerashaiva-Lingayats: Dingaleshwar Swami
Hubballi: Fakira Dingaleshwara Swami, the pontiff of the Shirahatti Mutt, who recently withdrew his nomination as an Independent candidate from the Dharwad constituency, has renewed his criticism of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, accusing him of employing divisive tactics and oppressing the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community.
Addressing reporters in Hubballi on Saturday, the pontiff asserted his intention to challenge the BJP candidate, Joshi, whom he accuses of hindering the progress of Lingayats and Veerashaivas. Dingaleshwara Swami alleged that Joshi had thwarted the development of Dharwad despite representing the constituency for two decades. He questioned Joshi's track record in facilitating Central government appointments for locals and in allocating funds for Dharwad's development.
Accusing Joshi of pursuing a policy of divide-and-rule, Dingaleshwara Swami claimed that the BJP candidate regularly met with senior pontiffs to exert pressure on him. The pontiff warned Joshi against attempting to divide the mentor-disciple relationship between himself and the Shirahatti Mutt's senior pontiff, suggesting that such actions could lead to Joshi's marital separation. He also claimed to possess video evidence of Joshi's meetings with various pontiffs during the election period.
Critiquing Joshi's focus on the recent tragic incident involving Neha Hiremath in Hubballi, Dingaleshwara Swami accused him of exploiting the situation for political gain. The pontiff emphasized Joshi's alleged neglect of the backward classes and Lingayats throughout his tenure as MP.
Dingaleshwara Swami affirmed his desire for Joshi's defeat, citing significant cultural and social changes in Dharwad since Joshi assumed office. He also highlighted the alleged absence of government grants to mutts in the Dharwad constituency over the past 15 years.
