'On Sunday, the Delhi Police, acting on a complaint regarding a 'manipulated video' involving Union Home Minister Amit Shah, initiated an FIR. The complaint originated from the BJP, alleging that the video, portraying Shah's promise to eliminate reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, was fabricated.
According to the BJP, the original video depicted Shah discussing the removal of the 'unconstitutional' 4% reservation for Muslims in Telangana. However, it was deceptively edited to present the Home Minister as advocating the abolition of Muslim reservation during a recent Lok Sabha election rally.
In response to the complaint, the Delhi Police contacted Google (owner of YouTube) and Facebook, requesting information about the account responsible for posting the altered video.
Various social media accounts, including official handles of Congress state units, disseminated the video, alleging that the BJP intended to terminate SC/ST reservation. The Jharkhand Congress tweeted on Sunday, 'Amit Shah's election speech went viral, in which he stated that if the BJP formed government again, OBC and SC/ST reservation would be abolished.'
BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya denounced the video as 'completely fake' and a potential catalyst for widespread violence. He asserted that Home Minister Shah had only spoken about eliminating the 'unconstitutional' Muslim reservation, which had reduced the share allocated to SCs, STs, and OBCs. Malviya warned Congress spokespersons that they faced legal consequences for spreading the doctored video.
A senior BJP leader told India Today, 'We are gathering complaints from all over the country and will ensure that FIRs are filed in each case.'
Ahead of the 2023 Telangana assembly elections, Amit Shah denounced the 4% Muslim reservation in the state as 'unconstitutional.' He pledged that if the BJP gained power, they would abolish this reservation and redistribute it to SCs, STs, and OBCs.'
