Those opposed to Narendra Modi should go to Pakistan: BJP’s Giriraj Singh

Giriraj SIngh

PATNA: BJP leader and former minister in the Nitish Kumar cabinet, Giriraj Singh kicked up a huge row when he said all those opposed to Narendra Modi should go to Pakistan as they have no place in India.

The remarks of the BJP leader, contesting the Lok Sabha election from Nawada, accusing Modi's opponents of acting on behalf of Pakistan are likely to be examined by the Election Commission.

"Those opposing Narendra Modi are looking at Pakistan, and such people will have place in Pakistan and not in India," Singh told a poll meeting at Mohanpur Haat Maidan near the temple town Deogarh on Friday.

Singh is seen to be a staunch Modi supporter, though he had expressed his unhappiness over BJP's alliance with Ramvilas Paswan's LJP. He had also wanted to contest from Begusarai but had to accept Nawada.

The election commission is likely to examine if Singh's statements are a violation of the poll code for being intimidatory and communally charged. "The statement is controversial and needs to be examined. First, we will examine it and then proceed accordingly," additional chief electoral officer R Lakshmanan told TOI on Saturday. "Suo motu action can be taken," he added.

The BJP leader's statements are clearly over the top, but seem to reflect an increasingly polarized election battle as the polls move to the phases in north Bihar where RJD, JD(U) and BJP are locked in a charged contest.

Singh had said, "Those who have united in Bihar and the country to stop Narendra Modi from becoming Prime Minister are pro-Pakistan. They have no right to live in India."

On Saturday, he told TOI on phone from Bhagalpur that he did indeed make the remarks, reiterating, "I meant to say that those opposing Narendra Modi are doing so at the behest of Pakistan. They are pro-Pakistan people and need not stay in India."

Singh's remark drew strong protests from various other political parties and leaders. They charged Singh with playing communal and divisive politics and demanded stern action against him by the EC.

Janata Dal (U) leader and water resources minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said the threat was directed against Muslims and is an attempt to create communal discord. "BJP's secret agenda has come to fore," he alleged.

Shivanand Tiwari, a senior politician and former national spokesperson of JD (U), said, "Singh's statement is an indicator of the situation in the coming days. It means that only those who have bhakti (unflinching faith) in NaMo, like him, will have the right to live in India."

JD (U) leader and food and consumer protection minister Shyam Rajak said the statements reflect a conspiracy to break the nation. Congress leader Prem Chandra Mishra said his party would move the EC against Singh, adding, "A case of treason should be instituted against the BJP leader."

Source: TOI