New Delhi: Social media users in India were left scratching their heads after a viral Instagram video seemingly suggested that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had expanded to the Czech Republic. The confusion arose from a promotional video by Czech UFC fighter Jiri Prochazka, showcasing his merchandise brand called BJP Store.
The video, which shows young fans wearing Prochazka’s apparel and chanting slogans in support of the brand, led many Indian users to mistakenly link the acronym “BJP” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political party. “BJP is more than a brand. It is a way of life,” reads the tagline of Prochazka’s brand, which sells apparel, gear and nutrition products aimed at athletes and fitness enthusiasts.
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Within hours, the video went viral in India, attracting more than 2.9 million views and over 1.2 lakh likes. Indian BJP supporters flooded the comments section, cheering what they believed was evidence of global support for the party. Others joked about the “global expansion” of Indian politics, while some users expressed confusion at the similarity of the acronym.
However, the acronym in Prochazka’s context stands for “Bomby Jak Pica,” a Czech phrase loosely translated as “Bomb the sh** out of them.” It is the fighter’s personal battle cry and has since become the name of his lifestyle and combat gear brand.
Jiri Prochazka, a professional mixed martial artist, is the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and the first Czech fighter to win a UFC championship.
While BJP Store has nothing to do with Indian politics, it has inadvertently gained massive attention from desi netizens.