Bengaluru, Feb 07 : The Karnataka Congress on Friday lodged a complaint with the Home Department and Director General of Police M A Saleem, accusing the BJP of misusing Mahatma Gandhi’s image in a newspaper advertisement aimed at criticising the state government.
According to the complaint, the advertisement features caricatures of the Mahatma pointing his walking stick at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and leader Rahul Gandhi. The caption allegedly accuses the Congress of exploiting Gandhi’s name for decades and spreading misinformation about the Centre’s VB-G RAM G Act, which it claims aligns with Gandhi’s vision of gram swaraj.
The advertisement appeared in several Kannada and English dailies and was reportedly issued in response to earlier government advertisements published on January 29 and February 3. Those ads portrayed Gandhi in conversation with a fictional character to underline what the state described as shortcomings in the Centre’s legislation compared to the previous law.
Congress MLC Ramesh Babu, in his complaint, termed the use of Gandhi’s image “wrongful and irresponsible,” arguing that it distorts the legacy of a global symbol of non-violence and could potentially disrupt public harmony. He maintained that the act amounts to cognizable offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and also violates the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950.
Babu urged the police to register an FIR, conduct a detailed investigation and initiate strict action against those responsible. He also called for immediate measures to prevent further circulation of the advertisement across digital platforms.
Meanwhile, Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge criticised the BJP on social media, alleging that the party had insulted the Mahatma by portraying him in a manner inconsistent with his lifelong message of peace and truth. He reiterated that Gandhi symbolised non-violence and unity, and said any attempt to associate him with aggression undermines constitutional values.