Venur: SDPI files defamation complaint as village ritual video shows participants in Muslim attire
Belthangady: The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has filed a complaint with the Venur Police against a group that recently held a ceremony called ‘Purushara Pooje’ in Perladka near Venur, accusing the participants of insulting Muslims.
While the ceremony shows the group dancing around a mound, video clips where people are seen in costumes typically worn by Muslims, are going viral on social media platforms. The participants include a man wearing a skull cap and a woman in a burqa. The man in skull cap is also seen holding the SDPI flag while dancing.
Social media users have accused the group of showing disrespect towards Muslims by degrading their dress sense. The users have also called it an intentional act by the participants.
The representative of the SDPI has further told the police that the sentiments of the party members have been hurt as the party flag was degraded during the ritual.
The SDPI said that ‘Purusharapooje’ was a convention that was regularly carried out in Perladka of Venur, but the ritual was now being misused as a means to degrade Muslims. The participants were made to don dresses like Muslim men, women and also Maulvis during the ceremony. In addition, the flag of the SDPI was used by one of the participants, which was an insult of the party, the complainant has told the police.
The party has also demanded that the authorities arrest the guilty parties and take legal action on them.
SDPI leaders Hamid Venur, Ashraf Badyaru, Nizam Katte, Aslam Maddadka and Rizwan were present on the occasion.
In #Belthangady's #Venur, individuals dressed in #Muslim religious and women's attire performed a dance with the intent to insult the Muslim community.
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) April 15, 2025
At a #Hindu traditional event held in a place called #Purusharakatte, miscreants misused the occasion. A video shows them… pic.twitter.com/zYvR5TW0kq
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Kharge, Siddaramaiah disapprove Cong party’s 'Gayab' post on social media
Bagalkote/Bengaluru, Apr 30 (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday disapproved of his party’s social media pictorial 'X' post titled "Gayab" to portray Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a leader missing in action during a crisis. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too expressed a similar view.
The Congress had put up a social media post with a headless figurine. The image posted on 'X' without naming Modi showed an old photo of him with his body missing, and his clothes forming the outline.
The image carried the message "Gayab" (missing) on top with a caption in Hindi that read "jimmedari ke samay -- Gayab" (missing at the time of taking responsibility).
When asked by reporters in Bengaluru whether the Congress had to face embarrassment because of its "Gayab" social media post against the prime minister, Kharge said, "I have not seen it, what can I say."
"But, any person, whoever it is, whether prime minister or any person or leader, no attempt should be made to cause any damage to their dignity or image. Whoever does it, whether they (BJP) do it or our people (Congress), it is not right," he said.
Asked about controversial statements being made by party leaders in the wake of the current situation in the country and his instructions to them, Kharge said, "We have already given (instructions). You are aware of it."
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Bagalkote, Siddaramaiah said one should know the limitations attached to freedom of expression.
"I don’t know who does it on social media. It should never be done – either of Narendra Modi or any other person. Just because we have freedom of expression and personal liberty, we cannot do whatever we want. We should not defame others," the CM said.
After the post was removed, BJP's social media head Amit Malviya said on 'X', "Deleting the post won't erase the truth. Your 'Sar Tan Se Juda' mindset stands exposed."
"You are unapologetic Islamists who wouldn't hesitate to target even Prime Minister Modi if it meant clawing back to power. But you never will. The Rahul Gandhi generation is destined for political irrelevance, while India moves forward without you, and far beyond your reach," Malviya said.
On the union government's measures post Pahalgam terror strike that killed 26 people, Siddaramaiah said, "If the war is inevitable, then let the Centre go for it. I don’t object to it, but terrorism should be completely wiped out. That’s what the Centre should do."
Clarifying his previous statement that war should not happen, he said that all that he meant was that the Centre should also ensure the security of people.
"I never said no to war. In 1971, Indira Gandhi waged a war and defeated Pakistan. More than 90,000 soldiers surrendered," he explained.
