It is a photograph that sent shock waves across Kerala. It is a photograph that will haunt the state and its people for years to come. A thin, frail man's hands are tied together with a lungi, his shirt torn, as he stares into the eyes of his attacker.
30-year-old Madhu, an Adivasi man from Attappadi was beaten to death last week and one of the photographs of him before his death showed Madhu standing with both his hands tied up.
On Saturday, BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan tweeted a photograph of himself, with his hands tied up.
He shared the photo saying: "En route Attappady Tribal Village. Please join and pledge your support for #ISupportKeralaAdivasis."
However, Kummanam's gesture soon drew flak from people online, who labelled the act as a publicity stunt and an attempt at defaming Madhu.
While many accused Kummanam of insulting Madhu, several others questioned how Kummanam and his party stood for the minorities. Some others termed it as "fancy dress," ridiculing the BJP leader, saying he could be considered for the Best Drama Award!
Best drama award 2018
— Ajeesh kulathupuzha (@Ajeeshcpim) February 24, 2018
Please vote for kummanam with one is getting more like he will be quality to final pic.twitter.com/IWTaihhTC6
While Kummanam tweeted only one photograph, soon, two more photographs began to circulate online. In one of the photographs, the colour of the cloth tied around his hands was different. This also led to Kummanam facing flak for organising a photo-op.
"What is this, a fancy dress competition?" asked one person.
ഇതൊന്താ ഫാൻസി ഡ്രസ് കോമ്പറ്റീഷനോ? ശവംതീനി ! pic.twitter.com/IAzaga03lJ
— Rajesh M (@Raj_Kwt) February 24, 2018
"Please don't kill Madhu over and over again," said another person.
മധുവിനെ വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും കൊല്ലുന്നതെന്തിനാണ് ഹേ..
— സ്റ്റാലിൻ (@s_tali_n) February 24, 2018
The best drama!
— Rajesh Valiyaveedu (@rajeshmolyr) February 24, 2018
Rehearsal 1st, taken photos with a professional photographer, choose the best one. Then say 'I shapport adivasis'
Pathetic! pic.twitter.com/EucBhwUfcz
"Ho, will theatre actors do such kind of rehearsals?" reads this meme.
എന്നിട്ട് ഉള്ളതിൽ നല്ലത് നോക്കി പോസ്റ്റും ഇട്ടു.. ഇയാള് മനുഷ്യനോ പിശാചോ..
— Troll Sangh (സംഘി ഫലിതങ്ങൾ) (@trollsangh) February 24, 2018
© DILSHAD#trollsangh @Kummanam pic.twitter.com/b27Evc5pqZ
"Can someone not untie his hands?" reads this meme.
— വിനീത് കരിവെള്ളൂർ (@vineeth_kvr7) February 24, 2018
As Kummanam Rajasekharan's act began to draw flak on social media, a few BJP members too posted similar photographs with their hands tied up.
— VS Jithin Dev (@jithindev) February 24, 2018
— VS Jithin Dev (@jithindev) February 24, 2018
Soon, Kummanam denied that he had posed for the pictures to be taken and asserted that he has only posted one photograph on social media.
"I did not pose for multiple photographs, that's a wrong allegation," Kummanam was quoted as saying.