Bhatkal: Just like Muslims supporting the Congress party across the state of Karnataka, the local social organization Majlis-e-Islah-wa-tanzeem also announced their endorsement of the Congress candidate Mankal Vaidya in Bhatkal. The overwhelming support from the Muslim community led to a decisive victory for Mankal Vaidya. In a display of unity, a considerable number of Muslim youth joined voters from other communities, including Mogers, Gonda, Namdhari, and Dalit, in joyful street celebrations.

At Shamsuddin Circle, situated in the heart of the city, a large gathering of youth assembled and began hoisting flags representing various groups. Congress flags were raised alongside saffron flags, blue flags with an image of Ambedkar, a white flag with Mankal Vaidya's picture, as well as green flags featuring a moon and star. Although these actions were spontaneous and unplanned, the sight of these flags fluttering in the strong wind symbolized a new era of harmony between the Muslim and non-Muslim communities in Bhatkal for onlookers.

However, as the evening progressed, narrow-minded individuals distorted the situation and launched a negative propaganda campaign on social media, falsely claiming that Pakistani and Islamic flags were raised at Shamsuddin Circle in Bhatkal immediately after Congress's victory.

Amit Malviya, the BJP IT cell chief, initiated a hostile campaign on Twitter by sharing a picture of Bhatkal's Shamsuddin Circle, leading to a flood of negative messages on topics such as Bhatkal Muslims, Pakistan, terrorism, Indian Mujahideen, and Yasin Bhatkal. Despite this, there were also positive and explanatory replies. Negative comments and news could also be observed on other social media platforms and some TV channels.

Meanwhile, individuals active on social media took it upon themselves to investigate the facts and disseminate the correct version. Media personnel promptly noticed the negative propaganda and reached out directly to the Superintendent of Police of Uttara Kannada to ascertain the truth of the matter. Their efforts played a vital role in clarifying and curbing the negative propaganda. As a result, the positive message of communal harmony and solidarity that emanated from this event became prominent due to the simultaneous hoisting of flags representing various groups.

Given that the entire state, including Bhatkal has now turned down the saffon politics and the BJP has suffered a major setback, it is natural for BJP cadres to lose composure. In such a situation, even the slightest mistake or misstep by Muslim youth could potentially ignite a significant controversy.

Keeping this in mind, the socio-political organization Majlis e Islah Wa Tanzeem had issued a prior directive, urging Muslim youth to celebrate cautiously and avoid unnecessary excitement in the event of victory for the candidate supported by them. However, the people and youth of Bhatkal, who were dissatisfied with the current BJP MLA Sunil Naik, were so overwhelmed by the joy of his defeat and the victory of their favored candidate, Mankal Vaidya, that it became challenging for them to contain their emotions. Despite attempts by troublemakers to create divisions between the two communities, they failed miserably in the face of Bhatkal's triumph of love over hatred.