NEW DELHI — Bharatiya Janata Party MP Ashok Kumar Kumar on Monday defended his earlier remark made reportedly on Muslim voters, reiterating that if voters are not ready to vote for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) then they should give up the benefits from the ongoing schemes of the government.
“My statement was that Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar work for everyone, be they Hindus or Muslims or Dalits or Backwards or Extremely Backwards. So, if we work for everyone, during elections, we expect to get votes from all.
“My statement was that Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar work for everyone, be they Hindus or Muslims or Dalits or Backwards or Extremely Backwards. So, if we work for everyone, during elections, we expect to get votes from allcommunities. We get votes from all communities but wherever the Muslims are in the majority, ‘pure-Muslim booths’, we get a zero. So, I said that if they have such hatred for Narendra Modi, turn down all the benefits from development that you are getting. That is all I said,” Yadav said.
Yadav’s earlier comments, made while campaigning for BJP candidate and sitting MLA Murari Mohan Jha, had stirred controversy. The MP compared the the atmosphere during Keoti elections to being near the Pakistan border and suggested that voters who did not support the BJP should not avail the benefits of NDA schemes. Yadav said this in the presence of Union Minister Nityanand Rai.
Yadav’s remark had stirred a controversy in political circles in Bihar ahead of Assembly elections to be held there on Novenber 6 and 11. — Agebcies

