Rahul Gandhi filed his candidature today from the Wayanad constituency in Kerala. The Congress party is in alliance with Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) which in turn is tied up with Jammat-e-Islami and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), both accused by National Investigation Agency (NIA) of spreading radicalism in Kerala.
A huge number of Muslim league flags were witnessed at Wayanad today at the Congress President’s roadshow. Videos have been circulating on social media where scores of green flags with the Islamic crescent and star were seen.
Joker Rahul Gandhi’s road show in Wayanad. All the best Hindus. ✌️ pic.twitter.com/SMHBkyyUf4
— Akshay | ಅಕ್ಷಯ | अक्षय (@AkshayKatariyaa) April 4, 2019
The official handle of the Congress party on Twitter shared images where the Muslim league flags are clearly visible.
#RahulGandhiWayanad #RahulTharangam pic.twitter.com/wPTL8qRmKT
— Congress (@INCIndia) April 4, 2019
The presence of IUML flags was also confirmed by pictures shared by Times of India on Twitter through its official handle.
Congress President .@RahulGandhi and General Secretary UP-East @priyankagandhi arrive at Wayanad, Kerala, where they will hold a road show before filing Rahul’s nomination
Keep following our LIVE blog for more details: https://t.co/JswlNIssYo pic.twitter.com/GSUdja52nr
— Times of India (@timesofindia) April 4, 2019
.@RahulGandhi and @priyankagandhi begin #Wayanad roadshow#ElectionsWithTimes #LokSabhaElections2019
Follow our breaking blog for all updates: https://t.co/GejjxT0JE3 pic.twitter.com/RnK5zBXwfc— Times of India (@timesofindia) April 4, 2019
The flags are also visible in a video shared by CNN News18.
#ElectionsWithNews18 – Video from @RahulGandhi & @priyankagandhi’s roadshow in Wayanad, Kerala. pic.twitter.com/m6ffHHg5zI
— News18 (@CNNnews18) April 4, 2019
Images shared by Congress social media team also confirm the presence of the flags.
Enthusiastic welcome of Congress President @RahulGandhi by the masses of Wayanad.#RahulTharangam pic.twitter.com/F0pliBingA
— Abhijit Sapkal (@abhijitsapkal1) April 4, 2019
Mood Of Kerala’s #Wayanad ..@RahulGandhi @priyankagandhi #RahulTharangam pic.twitter.com/bzoxZjofl0
— Niraj Bhatia | #NYAYforIndia (@bhatia_niraj23) April 4, 2019
#Wayanad with @RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/zcFUzt3N8P
— Jaskaran Kahlon (@kahlonjaskaran) April 4, 2019
The presence of the flags in the Nehru-Gandhi Parivar’s road show acquires a special significance as the Congress party had allegedly given strict instructions to its ally, the IUML, not to use the flags as it might harm their political prospects in North India. The CPI(M), too, had claimed that Rahul Gandhi was in the company of extremist Muslims at Wayanad.
IUML’s association with radical Islamist outfits SDPI was also pointed out by CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan who had said, “Gandhi is contesting as the candidate of Congress-IUML-Jammat-SDPI. Congress should think whether seeking the support of Muslim extremist organizations would benefit Congress at the national level.”
Wayanad is a Muslim majority constituency where they make up 56% of the electorate. Hindus are in minority with only 34%.
