A poster depicting the new state BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya in teh avatar of lord Krishna saving Draupadi (read Uttar Pradesh) from Dushashans depicted by Opposition leaders trying to pull Draupadi’s saree, went viral and invited sharp reaction from the people. The poster also carried pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national chief Amit Shah and Rupesh Pandey – the man who craeted the poster.
The BJP in turn, distanced itself from this poster saying the man behind this poster does not belong to the party.
The poster first came up in Varanasi, where Keshav Prasad Maurya had gone on his maiden visit. Similar posters appeared in other parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
The poster shows Kesahv Prasad Maurya as lord Krishna while BSP chief Mayawati, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Parliamentary Affairs minister Azam Khan and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi were depicted as Dushashans pulling the saree of Draupadi – which is Uttar Pradesh.
The poster symbolised how these leaders have fleeced UP and Maurya has now emerged to protect the state.
Mayawati has been criticised in the poster for alleged corruption, Gandhi for causing poverty and unemployment, Azam Khan for spreading communalism, Akhilesh Yadav for spreading 'goondaraj' and Owaisi for 'anti-national' acts.
The poster also said, "Kalyug mei Keshav keval updesh nahi, Ranbhoomi me yudh bhi karte hai," (in modern era Keshav not only gives sermons but also fights battle).
Rupesh Pandey, the brain behind this poster said the poster depicted feelings of the masses of the state. ''These Opposition leaders have been doing 'chirharan' of the state through different modes and now the new state BJP chief has come to fight against all these Dushashans," he said.
"We have projected the real picture of Uttar Pradesh and the act of the Opposition leaders," a senior party leader said but denied that the party leaders through the poster have tried to appease the newly appointed state chief.
On the other hand, Opposition parties have criticised the act of the BJP. A senior BSP leader said, ''We condemn such posters where a leader is projected as God. This is sacrilegious.''
Congress spokesperson Amarnath Agarwal also flayed the BJP for putting up such posters. "You cannot insult the leaders of other parties just to appease your own leader," he said.
He said such an act was an effort to cover up for the failures of the Modi government and to confuse the people of UP ahead of the 2017 Assembly polls.
Meanwhile, BJP has distanced itself from the controversial poster. Party spokesperson, Dr Chandramohan said that Rupesh Pandey, who had circulated the poster, was not a BJP leader nor does he hold any post in the party at any level.
"The party has nothing to do with the poster and it was an act by an individual. The party does not subscribe to such actions,” he said.