Congress workers dressed as Hanuman taunt BJP in Karnataka
Several Congress workers were seen wearing costumes of Bajrangbali Hanuman, a pointed jibe at the BJP and the right wing
New Delhi, May 13: The Congress headquarters in Delhi erupted in celebration as the party surged past the halfway mark in mid-morning leads in the Karnataka elections, leaving the ruling BJP trailing behind by more than 30 seats.
"Bajrangbali BJP ke nahi Congress ke sath hain... Bajrang Bali ne BJP par fine lagaya hai (Lord Bajrangbali is with the Congress. He has levied a fine on the BJP," said one of the workers prancing around in a Hanuman costume.
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Several Congress workers were seen wearing costumes of Bajrangbali Hanuman, a pointed jibe at the BJP and the right wing. One worker, dressed as Hanuman, proclaimed, "Bajrangbali is not with the BJP, but with the Congress. He has levied a fine on the BJP."
The choice of attire was a reminder of the political controversy that erupted over the Congress's promise to ban right-wing groups such as the Bajrang Dal that "spread hatred among communities on the grounds of caste or religion." The manifesto also equated the Bajrang Dal with the banned Islamic group Popular Front of India (PFI).
This promise had sparked vociferous protests from the BJP, who had accused the Congress of insulting Lord Hanuman. Several of the Congress's leaders had backtracked, denying any plans to ban the Bajrang Dal. Despite this, the BJP had turned the issue into an election matter, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling on voters to punish those who "abuse culture" and to chant "Jai Bajrangbali."
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