Chief Minister Nitish Kumar talks about Gandhi but promotes Godse and his ideology, says RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav
Waquar Hasan | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — The five-day Hindu Swabhiman Yatra, led by Union Minister Giriraj Singh, has come under fire after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including the minister himself, made communal and inflammatory remarks.
The yatra, aimed at uniting Hindus, took off from the Seemanchal district which has a significant share of the Muslim population and passed through areas like Ariaria, Purnia, Katihar and Kishanganj.
Addressing a gathering in Araria, BJP MP from the area, Pradeep Kumar Singh, raked up a controversy by saying that if anyone wants to live in Araria, he should become a Hindu.
“What shame is there in calling yourself a Hindu? If one has to live in Araria, he has to become Hindu. Look out for your caste when you have to marry your sons and daughters but when there is a need for Hindu unity, you must be a Hindu first and put your caste behind,” said the five-time lawmaker in the presence of the Union minister.
The provocative statement has drawn condemnation from political leaders and concerned citizens. Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav said such statements are being issued to create riots.
“Under the rule of the NDA government and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the way Giriraj Singh is organising a yatra (Hindu Swabhiman Yatra) and the absurd statement given by BJP’s Araria MP… there’s an attempt to create rift and riots between two communities. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has always been a party of social justice and secularism. We have always sacrificed whenever needed. We have always fought against communal and feudal forces and will keep doing so,” said RJD leader Yadav.
He slammed the chief minister saying that he talks about Gandhi but promotes Godse and his ideology.
The BJP MP’s comments drew criticism from his party ally, JD(U), which said it does not support his views. “How can anyone say only those of a certain religion can live in Araria?” asked JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar, noting that religion is not related to population growth.
Defending the party MP’s observation, state BJP spokesperson Kuntal Krishna said such a remark was a reply to those who want to create terror in the areas.
Speaking to Clarion India about the yatra, Tanzil Asif, a journalist who runs a news outlet based in Kishanganj, said Giriraj Singh keeps making such controversial statements but Araria MP making such remarks is strange as he also gets Muslim votes in his constituency.
“Araria MP used to avoid such remarks. He lives in a rented house belonging to a Muslim. During COVID, he had made communal remarks off the record. Its recording had gone viral. Now, he made such remarks openly,” Asif said
According to Asif, although the MP reneged on his statement by issuing some clarifications, his remarks were aimed at polarising Hindu voters, who voted for the RJD in great numbers in the last elections. He used to win elections by huge margins of over a lakh votes. This time, he won the elections by only 20,000 votes, Asif pointed out.
It’s not just Pradeep Singh but also Giriraj Singh who himself made provocative remarks during the yatra. At the start of the yatra from Bhagalpur district on Friday, the Union minister said earlier there were only 3,000 mosques in a place. The mosques there now have increased to one lakh, he said.
“You can see where are Hindus? There is no Hindu in Pakistan. Our brothers got divided. Some of them migrated to Bangladesh. There is no Hindu also there. What’s happening? I came here to request you. Our temples were demolished. Our women were violated. Now, we are only 70 percent,” he said.
In Kishanganj, from where his yatra had also passed, he called upon the people to have a stockpile of “spears, swords and tridents” in their homes which could be used as part of the worship of deities as well as for “self-defence”.
“Before coming to Kishanganj, I toured adjoining districts of Araria, Katihar and Purnea. Everywhere people shared their concerns about the honour of their sisters and daughters,” claimed the Union minister, who represents the Begusarai Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar.
“I have been told that every year a number of Hindu girls fall prey to ‘love jihad’ which is followed by their conversion (to Islam). No case is registered against the culprits who keep misbehaving with women who are not ready to fall into their trap,” alleged Singh.
The BJP leader claimed: “I have learned that in places where Hindus are far outnumbered by Muslims, their temples are vandalised and their religious practices like wearing of vermilion by women are interfered with.”
Talking about the yatra, Asif said it was an attempt at polarising society by targeting Muslims. The BJP is not directly calling its yatra. But it is being addressed and participated by the BJP leaders and MPs. In a way, it becomes the yatra of the BJP.
