The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) has taken suo motu cognizance of a publicity video of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that uses children to promote the political party. Not just that, the video also appears to violate the Election Commission’s assertion that armed forces cannot be used for election campaign. The EC has recently even clarified this after several politicians mentioned Balakot air strikes to seek votes.
In the video, a number of children can be seen with placards showing “Main bhi chowkidar”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been using this phrase in his election campaigns to indicate he is guarding the country like a security guard.
In the video, a child’s voice narrates that children cannot vote, but they can surely “support”. “My country is my religion, my country is my mother, my country is my father, my country is my religion. Whoever respects the country, gets my respect,” the child goes on saying, and then adds, “I cannot vote now, but I can support”.
The child then goes on to say that this is the new India and then, ghar mein ghusenge bhi, aur marenge bhi. (We will go inside their homes and hit at them). PM Modi has often used this phrase to depict the success of the Balakot strikes.
In the said video, during and after the heavy dose of nationalism expressed through the voices of children, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seen in a vehicle and then waving his hand with chants of “Modi! Modi!” in the backdrop, indicating whom the children intend to support.
According to the WBCPCR chairperson, Ananya Chakraborty, the body has taken cognizance of some videos including this, where, “on pretext of making normal programmes on children, Bharatiya Janata Party very cleverly and surreptitiously used children for election campaign in favour of Sri Narendra Modi.”
The letter was sent to the West Bengal chief electoral officer (CEO) Aariz Aftab.
“It is a case of child’s rights violation according to the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, where a child can’t be forced to participate in any processes affecting his interest, considering the age and maturity of the child,” the letter notes.
In the letter to the CEO, the child rights body has mentioned that “the children in the advertisement is (sic) tutored for the purpose of gaining in the election on behalf of a political party.” The CEO has been asked to take necessary action as per rules.
[Cover image: screenshot of the video]
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