PFI Bhagya: BJP counters Congress’ PayCM campaign in Karnataka

The BJP’s Karnataka unit altered Siddaramaiah’s name to ‘Siddaramullah’ in an apparent reference to a Muslim name.

With #PFIBhagya as its operative word, the poster asks people to scan the QR code to “know all about Siddaramullah’s love for #Ugrabhagya.(terror bhagya) [sic]”

Did you know? Of course you did! @siddaramaiah – #PFI bhai bhai. #PFIBhagya #Ugrabhagya

Scan the QR code to know all about his shenanigans with jihadists. #BharatTodoYatra pic.twitter.com/fzqhHuJD72

— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) October 3, 2022

The use of the word “Bhagya” is a nod to Siddaramaiah’s successful populist schemes that ended with the suffix “Bhagya”.

Schemes like Ksheera Bhagya, Krishi Bhagya, and Shaadi Bhagya were introduced when he was chief minister of Karnataka between 2013 and 2018.

While the PayCM campaign poster of the Congress had a QR code with a Basavaraj Bommai lookalike image at the centre of the code, BJP’s QR code poster has two simple codes on either side of the poster, with Siddaramaiah’s photo edited to show him clad in green — another apparent reference to Muslims.

In the backdrop is a flag of the now-banned PFI and on top is a modified Google Pay app logo in PFI flag colours.

Scanning the QR code — much like the Congress’ PayCM campaign — lands users on the website https://www.pfibhagya.com/. It is a single-page website.

Scanned copies of eight English and Kannada articles listing action by the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government on the PFI — including the withdrawal of petty cases and statements on proposals to ban PFI not being before the then government — are on the website.

“Siddaramaiah and his Cabinet, during their government, decided to release 1,500 anti-nationals who were being funded by foreign hands and withdraw cases. Siddaramaiah had asked us why he should not withdraw the cases against the PFI. Now he is claiming that he wanted the PFI banned. The PFI’s affiliate outfits, like the SDPI, come out in support of the Congress. How dare they claim that they wanted PFI banned!” R Ashoka told reporters on Monday.

The BJP’s intended counter to the Congress’ massively successful PayCM campaign comes in the backdrop of Congress leaders in Karnataka welcoming the ban on the PFI and insisting on an inquiry into an RSS leader’s allegations of the BJP funding the SDPI during elections in coastal Karnataka districts.

PFI ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ, ಸಮಾಜದ ಸ್ವಾಸ್ಥ್ಯ ಕೆಡಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಮೂಲಭೂತವಾದಿ, ಕೋಮುವಾದಿ ಸಂಘಟನೆಗಳನ್ನೂ ನಿಷೇಧಿಸಬೇಕು.

PFI ಸಂಘಟನೆಯನ್ನು ಪೋಷಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದಿದ್ದು ಬಿಜೆಪಿಯೇ ಎಂದು ಸತ್ಯಜಿತ್ ಸುರತ್ಕಲ್ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಹಲವು ಸಂಘಪರಿವಾರದ ನಾಯಕರು ಹೇಳಿದ್ದರು, ಆ ಬಗ್ಗೆಯೂ ತನಿಖೆಯಾಗಬೇಕು.

PFI ಪೋಷಕರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಜಗತ್ತಿಗೆ ತಿಳಿಯಬೇಕು. pic.twitter.com/yfQB5wqmNB

— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) September 28, 2022

The Congress in Karnataka has been demanding a ban on BJP’s ideological parent RSS since the Union government declared the PFI and eight of its affiliate outfits “unlawful”.

While the Congress’ QR code campaign is centred on an administrative issue like corruption, including allegations of 40 percent commission, the BJP’s QR code poster is centred on communal issues, Islamising Siddaramaiah.

On the day the BJP released its QR code poster, BJP Rajya Sabha member Lahar Singh Siroya released a letter posing 10 questions to Siddaramaiah and Rahul Gandhi.

In his letter, the senior BJP leader accused the Congress of involving “Naxals”, “Maoists” and “their sympathisers” in planning the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Karnataka.

“Can they (Siddaramaiah and Rahul Gandhi) confirm if some Congressmen have helped Naxals/Maoists to collect large sums of money to build and run media outlets in recent years? Will they agree to a probe into the money sources of these people,” Siroya asked, accusing Siddaramaiah’s “friends” of giving money and logistical support to organise memorial functions for a slain journalist.

Sources close to Siroya suggested that the reference made in the letter was to Gauri Lankesh and a website being run in her name.

Even as Siroya made the allegations of nexus between Naxals and the Congress, leaders of the Opposition party hit back.

Our Rajya Sabha MP has asked questions hoping it will be “star question” in RS.
May I suggest that he direct these questions to HM Sri @AmitShah ji who is incharge of “intelligence” wing or is he suggesting that HM is incompetent & doesn’t have a clue what the Naxals are upto? pic.twitter.com/A0zKoVLHRU

— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) October 3, 2022

“I am not making these allegations because the BJP is rattled because of Bharat Jodo Yatra. I have proof that people with Naxal and Maoist links have been roped in to plan the yatra being led by Rahul Gandhi. Let the Congress identify them. The yatra makes no difference to the BJP,” Siroya told South First.