Bengaluru: A photograph capturing Karnataka’s BJP leaders standing behind barricades during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangalore has gone viral, triggering a wave of discussions and reactions across social media platforms. The image portrays BJP figures including Karnataka BJP Unit President Nalin Kumar Kateel, former ministers, and MLAs R. Ashoka, K. Gopalaiah, N. Muniratna, and others standing behind barricades while waving at PM Modi as he passed through on his way to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The image has led to contrasting interpretations and strong reactions from political circles.
ಬಿಜೆಪಿಯ
ರಾಜ್ಯಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ,
ಮಾಜಿ ಸಚಿವರುಗಳು,
ಹಾಲಿ ಶಾಸಕರುಗಳು,
ಹೀಗೆ ಬೀದಿಪಾಲಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎಂದರೆ "ಸರ್ವಾಧಿಕಾರಿ"ಯ ಮೊದಲ ಬಲಿಪಶುಗಳು ಬಿಜೆಪಿಗರಿಗೇ ಅಲ್ಲವೇ?ಆತ್ಮ ಗೌರವ, ಸ್ವಾಭಿಮಾನವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಕೈಬೀಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎಂದರೆ ಗುಲಾಮಗಿರಿಯ ಪರಮಾವಧಿಗೆ ತಲುಪಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎಂದರ್ಥವಲ್ಲವೇ @BJP4Karnataka ? pic.twitter.com/xYcUcxBhJK
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) August 26, 2023
The Karnataka Congress unit seized on the image as an opportunity to criticize the state BJP leaders, describing their stance as an epitome of subservience and PM Modi’s authoritarian rule. Congress leader Ramesh Babu deemed the posture of BJP leaders akin to being treated like “street dogs” during PM Modi’s ISRO visit. The Congress party raised questions about the state BJP’s dignity and self-respect, implying that their posture of greeting PM Modi raised concerns about their autonomy and integrity.
The BJP leaders’ position behind barricades has become a subject of intense scrutiny and debate, with some suggesting that it reflects a lack of assertiveness in their interactions with the Prime Minister. The photograph’s widespread circulation has prompted a variety of opinions and speculations regarding the dynamics between state-level BJP leadership and the central leadership under PM Modi.
Amidst these discussions, it has been reported that PM Modi’s decision to forgo a mega roadshow and his apparent avoidance of interactions with state BJP leaders during his visit have stirred dissatisfaction within the state leadership. The cancellation of the planned roadshow has been met with disappointment, and the inability to appoint an opposition leader has provided fodder for criticism from the Congress party.
These developments highlight the intricacies of political dynamics and the nuances of public perception, shedding light on the complexities that arise from interactions between political leaders at various levels of governance.
