Patna: Senior Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Giriraj Singh has landed in trouble for his hate speech in which he dubbed Narendra Modi’s critics as “anti-national” who will have no place in India after the elections.
Not only did the Election Commission ban him from launching election campaigns in Bihar and Jharkhand, but he has also found himself cornered within his own party too. The BJP, which has already distanced itself from Singh, is now planning to take action against him.
“Top leaders of the party are seized with the matter and may consider action against him,” former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi of the BJP told the media today.
The party’s prime ministerial candidate Modi too has voiced anguish over such kind of remarks coming from the party leaders midway through the polls and sought to dismiss it as the party stand through his tweet. “Petty statements by those claiming to be the BJP well-wishers are deviating the campaign from the issues of good governance and development. I disapprove any such irresponsible statement and appeal to those making them to kindly refrain from doing so”, Modi has tweeted.
Singh earned the ire of the party after he made a series of hate speeches at his election rallies in Bihar and Jharkhand, and announced he stood by his stand despite the party disapproving of his statements.
“Those who want to stop Narendra Modi (from becoming prime minister) are looking towards Pakistan. In the coming days, they will have no place in India. They will only have place in Pakistan,” Singh who is a party candidate from southern Bihar’s Nawada Lok Sabha seat had told a rally a couple of days back. He stood by his stand despite his party distancing itself from such statement. “I stand by what I said. Isn’t it true that Pakistan is using all its resources to prevent Modi becoming the PM? Even within the country, there are people with Pakistani mindset who are opposing Modi, and their proper destination will be Pakistan”, asked Singh, a former minister.
Singh who is considered staunch follower of Modi kicked up further controversy when he alleged the “Centre gives subsidy to those who export beef and taxes those who rear cows”.
Taking the matter seriously, the EC has now banned Singh from holding election rallies in two states while also directing the authorities to register cases against him. So far, three separate cases have been registered against Singh — two in Jharkhand and one in Bihar. Meanwhile, a court in Jharkhand has issued non-bailable arrest warrant against Singh in connection with his hate speech. According to a report, a team of Jharkhand police are on way to Bihar to execute the arrest warrant.
Singh, however, defended he was innocent alleging his statement had been distorted by the media. He also wondered over the way the EC had not taken action against Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, Samajwadi party leader Azam Khan, Janata Dal (United) leader Shakuni Chaudhary and AAP leader Shazia Ilmi.
