Be it Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, it is clearly not a good time or place to be a social media giant in India right now.

© Pexels

As if the beef with Twitter was not enough, now Instagram has come under fire after a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader filed a complaint against the American social networking service for allegedly showcasing Hindu god, Lord Shiva in a "bad taste".

© Reuters

BJP leader Manish Singh lodged the complaint after finding a sticker on Instagram that showed Lord Shiva winking while holding a glass of wine in one hand and a smartphone in another.

© Instagram

Despicable act of @instagram!!
By writing Shiva in giphy, you'll find a sticker of Lord Shiva which has alcohol in one hand a mobile in another and headphones. #boycottinstagram #instagramsucks pic.twitter.com/1iI0tTA04t

— Nisarg Jadav (@Nis2108) June 8, 2021

Singh said the sticker, which was seen in Instagram's story section, hurt Hindu sentiments, after which he went on to file the complaint at the Parliament Street police station in New Delhi against the Instagram CEO and his other top officials.

BJP leader files complaint against Instagram for Shiva sticker with mobile, wine

Delhi BJP leader Manish Singh has filed a complaint with the Delhi Police on Tuesday for portraying Lord Shiva in a "bad taste" in one of its GIFs where Shiva can be seen with a glass of alcohol in pic.twitter.com/xND9zjaI8M

— కలకట మల్లికార్జున (@dattuK) June 9, 2021

इंस्टाग्राम अपनी औकात में रहे देवनिंदा नही सहेगा हिन्दुस्तान।
भारत माता की जय।🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/QQ8FA3XXrS

— Manish Singh (@MSinghBJP) June 8, 2021

In a video released on social media, the BJP leader, while demanding an official apology from Instagram, has also said that he will launch a protest and dharna at the social media giant's office until the stickers are not removed from the app.

Following reports of the complaint, social media users couldn't help but take a strong stand against Instagram's use of the sticker.

Dear#Instagram Please Remove Lord Shiva Emoji Of Wine Glass
Other wise it will b very heavy to all of you....@instagram @InstagramComms pic.twitter.com/zesACLlao7

— Sajan (@Sajan43322849) June 8, 2021

there is a sticker in your giphy in which a glass of beer is shown in the hand of lord shiva. it is condemnable remove immediately @instagram@finkd @narendramodi @Uppolice @dgpup pic.twitter.com/STvmRGkVsK

— Nishant Dwivedi (@nishantdwiivedi) June 8, 2021

Manish Singh, You has done the absolutely right thing by filing complaint against Instagram app for not taking any action against those pictures who was insulting lord shiva #WellDoneManishSingh

Proud of you @MSinghBJP

Har Har Mahadev https://t.co/fWuIF7L7mg

— Riya Agrahari 🇮🇳 (@Riyaagrahari8) June 8, 2021

When You Search "SHIVA" On Instagram GIF#HinduphoicInstagram
@instagram
Insulting our lord shiva pic.twitter.com/EUg4OMtMl7

— 𝙰𝚛𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚊 𝚂𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚑 (@_arpitasng) June 8, 2021

@instagram would request you to take this giphy down of lord shiva as this hurts the religious sentiments. You can see Lord Shiva holding a mobile phone and a glass of wine/whatever. A sincere request to please remove it.
Attaching the screen recording. pic.twitter.com/B3ykGC5tPr

— Micheal Uppal (@UppalMicheal) June 8, 2021

Instagram sticker showing Lord shiva winking with a drink
Should an American company portray a hindu god like this @finkd #MarkZuckerberg #instagram #Facebook #Indian @Facebook @instagram #LordShiva pic.twitter.com/HdmRnnZ25X

— santosh naidu (@santoshnaidu075) June 8, 2021

What the hell is going on is every body seeing these People what type of picture Insta team using in reels for Lord Shiva.
India goverment please take action else we need to go to court. #Instagram #MarkZuckerberg #PMOIndia #AmitShah #BJP4India #BJP4UP #CMYogiAdityanath pic.twitter.com/pd0ciKCLG4

— Amardeep Tanwar (@AmardeepTanwar7) June 8, 2021

@instagram has gone too far the extent of hurting our religious sentiments!The GIF of Lord Shiva holding an alchohol glass is an insult to Sanatan Dharma & it isn't freedom of speech & expression;If you have the courage then dare to make such a GIF with 'Kabba' @friendsofrss pic.twitter.com/4GHVRRYkvd

— Ankitaa Biswas (@bhardwajankitaa) June 8, 2021

This sends a message of hatred and disharmony, Instagram needs to taken down these pics of lord Shiva which hurt the sentiments of many people. Manish Singh has filed a complaint against this issue. #WellDoneManishSingh @MSinghBJP pic.twitter.com/ClPnr1wC7y

— Veeral (@veeral_sanghvi) June 8, 2021

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