Chennai: Tamil Nadu BJP State Secretary and advocate Asvathaman has lodged a formal complaint against Sai Lakshmikant, son of DMK organising secretary RS Bharati, for his derogatory social media post targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On August 8, 2024, Sai Lakshmikant shared a post on social media featuring a caricature that portrayed Modi in a highly negative light. The post blamed Modi for wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024, illustrating Modi with a sword and captioning it “Raja Dhrog-Royal Betrayal,” a reference to the popular film *Baahubali*. Phogat had been disqualified for exceeding the weight limit, which prevented her from competing in the finals.
The Tamil Nadu BJP demanded that Lakshmikant delete the post and issue an unconditional apology. Lakshmikant, however, refused to comply, leading Asvathaman, under the directive of TN BJP chief Annamalai, to lead a delegation to the Police Commissioner to file a formal complaint against him. The complaint, presented on August 8, 2024, accuses Lakshmikant of posting content designed to damage Modi’s reputation and incite public unrest.
Asvathaman, who previously ran for a Lok Sabha seat from Thiruvannamalai and is also an advocate, criticized the police for allegedly mishandling complaints from the BJP. He claimed that complaints against DMK members are often ignored or dismissed, while complaints against BJP members are acted upon swiftly. Asvathaman described the police’s response as discriminatory, noting that complaints against BJP members are frequently kept “in cold storage.”
In his complaint, Asvathaman stated that Lakshmikant’s post was not only defamatory but also intended to instigate public anger and disrupt communal harmony. He argued that the post aimed to undermine national unity and pride by harming Modi’s reputation. The BJP has expressed frustration over what it perceives as unequal treatment in handling political complaints, asserting that the police’s failure to act could force them to seek judicial remedies.
Following the backlash, Sai Lakshmikant has deleted the contentious post from his social media account. Despite this action, Asvathaman warned that if the police fail to take appropriate action, the BJP will pursue legal avenues to ensure justice. Asvathaman emphasized that the post was intended to create hatred against Modi and destabilize communal harmony, reflecting a broader issue of online defamation in political discourse.
RS Bharati, a former DMK Rajya Sabha member and advocate, has a history of controversial remarks. Bharati has been criticized for various statements, including disparaging comments about the Dravidian movement and other political figures. He has previously made controversial claims about the educational achievements of marginalized communities and criticized the judiciary and media. His remarks have included comparisons of the Supreme Court to a camp of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and derogatory comments about other states, reflecting his contentious approach to political commentary.
In May 2020, Bharati was taken into custody by the Central Crime Branch of the Chennai City Police for making inflammatory remarks. His comments have often sparked controversy, including claims that no Dalits had become High Court judges until the Dravidian movement facilitated such appointments. Bharati has also criticized media outlets, comparing them to Mumbai’s “red light area” and accusing them of corruption. Additionally, he has been vocal against Tamil Nadu’s governor, alleging that the governor creates unnecessary conflicts with the ruling government.
The complaint against Sai Lakshmikant adds to the ongoing scrutiny of RS Bharati and highlights the intense political rivalry between the DMK and BJP. This incident underscores the role of social media in contemporary political battles, where posts and comments can quickly escalate into significant controversies. The BJP’s complaint and the subsequent legal actions reflect the broader challenges of managing political discourse in the digital age, where social media platforms often become arenas for partisan conflict and personal attacks.
