Viral video of Uttar Pradesh MLA Nandkishore Gurjar shows inflammatory remarks targeting minorities; Muslim groups call it hate speech
NEW DELHI — A fresh controversy has erupted in Uttar Pradesh after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Nandkishore Gurjar was caught on video likening Bangladeshi and Rohingya Muslims to swine during a public programme in Baghpat. The remarks have triggered anger among Muslim communities and drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, who accused the BJP of spreading communal hatred for electoral advantage.
The incident occurred in Dagarpur village, where Gurjar attended a yoga programme. Addressing the gathering, the BJP MLA from Loni used deeply offensive language. “Swines and Bangladeshi Rohingyas are being settled here, and they will ruin the country. I am fighting with them every day,” he said.
The video of his comments has gone viral on social media, sparking uproar across the state and beyond.
Muslim residents expressed shock at the MLA’s remarks. Mohammad Kaleem, a shopkeeper from Loni, said: “It hurts when an elected representative calls us pigs. We are Indians, we pay taxes, and yet we are made to feel like outsiders.”
Another resident, Shabana Begum, said: “Such words from a public leader only divide people. Our children are already facing discrimination in schools and jobs. Now, when leaders openly insult us, what message are they giving to society?”
Opposition parties quickly condemned Gurjar’s remarks. A spokesperson for the Samajwadi Party said: “The BJP cannot survive without insulting Muslims. Every election season, they try to create divisions. Gurjar’s words are an insult not just to Muslims but to the Constitution itself.”
Congress leader Imran Masood also reacted strongly: “Muslims have contributed to India’s growth in every field – from science and culture to defence. Yet BJP leaders paint us as enemies. This hate speech is deliberate, to hide their failures on unemployment and inflation.”
This is not the first time BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh have been accused of targeting minorities. Over recent years, several lawmakers have made inflammatory remarks, often just before elections. Critics say these speeches are meant to polarise communities for political gain.
Activist Nadeem Khan, who works on communal harmony, told Clarion India: “When leaders compare human beings to animals, it is dehumanisation. This is dangerous because it encourages violence against minorities. Gurjar’s statement is part of a larger pattern of hate politics.”
Analysts say that such controversies point to the BJP’s broader strategy of communal polarisation. Dr Arshi Khan, a political science professor, said: “These remarks are not accidental. They are calculated to strengthen the BJP’s hold over certain voters. But in the process, they put India’s social fabric at risk.”
For Indian Muslims, such language adds to a growing sense of fear and exclusion. Community leaders have demanded action against Gurjar. Maulana Abdul Rashid, an imam in Baghpat, said: “We want the chief minister to answer. Will he take action against his MLA, or will he remain silent? Silence means approval.”
Civil rights groups have called for legal proceedings against Gurjar under hate speech laws. Opposition leaders have also demanded his suspension from the party. However, BJP officials have yet to comment officially.
For many Muslims, the controversy is a reminder of the everyday struggle to be accepted as equal citizens. “We are not Bangladeshi, we are not Rohingya, we are Indian Muslims,” said Rizwan Ahmed, a student in Meerut. “Our only demand is respect.”
