The AIADMK led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami, which is in alliance with the Islamist outfit SDPI, (political arm of the banned terror outfit Popular Front of India – PFI) has once again unleashed its Dravidianist tendencies.
In its latest political ad, the AIADMK has caricatured Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a saffron leader with the saffron colour shown in negative light, a trope used by DMK and Dravidianists.
The 39 second video ad shows PM Modi on a campaign vehicle holding a goat, a sly dig at BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai, mocking his family’s goat-rearing background. PM Modi is caricatured speaking in broken Hindi.
“Aap ka vote hai, mera hai. Tamil moli pudikum.“, (Your vote is mine. I love Tamil language), says the man acting like PM Modi to which a member of the crowd responds saying “Ellam maalum ji. Enga Ayya Edappadi unga vandavalatha yellan LED la ethitaru” which translates to “We know everything ji. Our leader Edappadi has exposed you in LED”.
Another man from the crowd says that there’s no place for people who speak differently in different states.
The driver then asks “Ji, where next?” to which the caricatured saffron leader says “Drive to the airport. Let’s go.”
After this, there is a footage of four children dancing and chanting “Abki Baar Chocobar”, taking a jibe at BJP’s political slogan “Abki Baar 400 Paar”.
Then the goat is shown bleating to which the caricatured PM Modi says “Hey Aadu! Nee vera enaku sound-u kudukadhe. May mudinju June varatum. Meh Meh nu kathura nee, biryani than” which translates to “Let June come after May. You’re doing ‘meh meh’ now. You’ll be made Biryani.”
The ad released by the Palaniswami-led ADMK has not just mocked PM Modi but also negatively portrays saffron colour, a colour which is sacred to Hindus across India. This is seen as the Palaniswami-led ADMK’s apparent attempt to woo Muslim votes.
Also, the ad is in violation of the mandate laid down by the Election Commission of India.
The EC back in February 2024 had issued strict directives regarding use of children in any election-related activities.
“Political parties have been advised not to use children in election campaigns in any form whatsoever including distribution of posters/pamphlets or to participate in slogan shouting, campaign rallies, election meetings, etc.”, the ECI statement said.
The EC noted that the prohibition includes “use of children to create the semblance of a political campaign in any manner including use through poem, songs, spoken words, display of insignia of political party/candidate, exhibiting ideology of political party, promoting achievements of a political party or criticising the opponent political parties/candidates”.
“The Commission has conveyed ‘zero tolerance’ towards use of children in any manner during the electoral process by parties and candidates,” the EC had said.
The EC had also said that in case of any violations, the relevant district election officers and returning officers will be personally held liable, and this could result in “severe disciplinary action”.
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