Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has stoked controversy by urging Muslim voters of a Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar with sizeable population of the minority community to vote en bloc and defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The comments by the former test cricketer at a rally in Katihar, where he was canvassing in support of veteran Congress leader and former union minister Tariq Anwar, drew an angry response from the BJP which condemned the "reprehensible act," urged the Election Commission to take "suo motu cognisance" and take suitable action.
A case has been registered against the Congress leader on charges of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), reports ANI.
"Do not consider yourself as being in a minority. You constitute the majority here. You are about 64 percent. Do not fall into the trap laid down by people like Owaisi (president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen). They have been propped up by the BJP," Sidhu had said on Monday, 15 April, at a rally held at Barasol, in Balrampur assembly segment falling under Katihar Lok Sabha seat in Bihar.
"Recognise your strength and vote en bloc to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said.
A video footage of Sidhu’s comments in the remote area was broadcasted by TV news channels on Tuesday, 16 April.
The Punjab minister, who has been campaigning for his party in the Seemanchal region of Bihar, appeared to have mixed up Katihar with neighboring Kishanganj where Muslims are in the majority and AIMIM has put up a candidate.
Bihar BJP Vice-President Devesh Kumar said on Tuesday, 16 April, as per ANI, “We met Election Commission and made them aware of Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's statement made at a rally in Katihar. They said they have seen the footage and have assured us that necessary action will be taken.”
“We strongly condemn the remarks made by Navjot Singh Sidhu. His comments appear to be in sync with the Congress policy of minority appeasement and a consequence of the party’s worry of an impending defeat," he said.
“On the one hand, our party, under the leadership of Modi, has been working with the motto of 'sabka sath sabka vikas' and on the other hand, the Congress has nothing to offer except divisive politics. We condemn this reprehensible act by the Congress leader,” Kumar said.
(With input from ANI, PTI)
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