A controversy has erupted in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, over BJP posters featuring farmers’ land auctions. Madhuram Jayapal, a farmer from Ramdevra, found his photo displayed on the hoardings and vehemently denied any involvement in land auctions or outstanding debts. He accused the BJP of tarnishing his reputation with false claims, raising concerns among local farmers.
Madhuram Jayapal, a 70-year-old farmer, expressed his frustration, stating that the BJP was unjustly defaming him and misleading the public with baseless allegations. He has issued a warning about initiating legal proceedings to address this matter.
The dispute arises from BJP’s ‘No More Rajasthan’ campaign, which was launched before the assembly elections. The campaign included a poster with the caption, “Land auctions of over 19,000 farmers, No More Rajasthan,” alongside a farmer’s photo. However, the farmer in question asserts that his image was used without permission and that neither his land has been auctioned nor does he have any outstanding debts. He claims ownership of 200 bighas of land.
This issue came to light when a youth from Jayapal’s village noticed the unauthorized use of the farmer’s photo on the posters displayed across Jaipur. The concerned individual shared a photo of the banner on a WhatsApp group, where Jayapal’s son saw it and alerted his father.
Madhuram Jayapal firmly asserted that his photo had been used without justification and demanded its immediate removal. He emphasized that he had no outstanding loans and no land had been auctioned. He further stated that if the government claimed otherwise, they should provide evidence to substantiate their allegations.
This controversy has brought unwanted attention to the BJP’s campaign tactics, with Jayapal’s case highlighting the importance of responsible and accurate representation in political advertisements.
