Indias election watchdog orders X to remove anti-Muslim video posted by Modis ruling party

The Election Commission of India has ordered the removal of an animated video targeting the country’s Muslim minority that was posted on social media by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Karnataka state chapter.

The video, laced with anti-Muslim hatred, showed Rahul Gandhi, the face of the main opposition Congress party, favouring Muslims over the mostly Hindu Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes – all underprivileged communities covered under the country’s social welfare net.

After the Congress and civil society groups in Karnataka raised concern about the video, the election body directed X to remove it. The video was “violative of the extant legal framework”, the commission said.

It wasn’t clear why the election watchdog didn’t order the ruling party to take down the video despite having the legal …