Comic ads mock Cong leaders in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW: The BJP’s incendiary CD is not the only piece of election material sparking controversy in Uttar Pradesh. A string of advertisements in the newspapers here is the latest tool in the war of words between the major contenders - the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the BJP and the Congress.

An ad appearing in the papers here on Tuesday shows caricatures of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi portrayed as crocodiles, shedding the predictably proverbial crocodile tears. The caption reads: “Assam mein 70 Hindi-bhaashi mazdooron ki nirmam hatya ke baare mein us party ka kya kehna hai?” (What does this party have to say about the brutal killing of 70 Hindi-speaking labourers in Assam?)

The advertisement, just one in a series, targeting the Congress, has been released by a non-descript outfit called the “Rashtra Shanti Lokmanch”. The party has already lodged a complaint with the Election Commission demanding an immediate ban on such ads.

“These cartoons of the PM and the Sonia is not only insulting but a violation of the EC’s model code of conduct” says UP Congress spokesman Virendra Madan, who filed the complaint with state Election Commissioner AK Vishnoi.

But the EC is yet to initiate any action. “It’s difficult to trace who is behind the ads. These seem to be new outfits. We are trying to ascertain who is funding these ads,” says Vishnoi.

While the EC gropes in the dark, the ads, some of them quite vicious, hog prime space in the dailies. One of these cites the “serial killings” in Mumbai and Bhiwandi, the Marine Drive rape by a cop, and a girl’s molestation at the Gateway of India on New Year’s Eve to ask why the Congress leaders forget these incidents and harp on only UP’s Nithari case. 

Another series targets the SP, BSP and Congress. Put out by the “Common People’s Voice”, it’s obviously ‘inspired’ by the BJP think-tank.

“Satta mein rah kar kaali kamaai. Ab donon ke peechhay CBI,” reads one of these ads. (After accumulating black money while in power, both of them are facing CBI inquiries.)

The ad, carrying cartoons of Mulayam and Mayawati, refers to the Taj corridor scam and Mulayam’s disproportionate assets case.

The parties behind such campaigns have obviously been smart enough to use some social organisation as a front to avoid detection.

This way, the expenditure on the ads, which would be in crores, is also not added to the party’s election expenditure. Then, there is the added benefit of more credibility as compared to an ad put out under the party’s name.

The BJP’s ‘authorised’ newspaper ads also target Mayawati and Mulayam. “Donon ne baari-baari loot ke khaaya. Ab badlaav ka mauka aaya,” reads a cartoon which shows the two former CMs decamping with trunks overflowing with booty.

“Instead of proclaiming their achievements, the parties are indulging in sordid mud-slinging. This is indeed an unfortunate trend, a sad phase for democracy,” says former Lucknow University V-C Roop Rekha Verma.