One of the BJP advertisements barred by the EC alleges that RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar are “snatching the plate of dalits” by planning to transfer the quota for dalits
One of the BJP advertisements barred by the EC alleges that RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar are “snatching the plate of dalits” by planning to transfer the quota for dalits and EBCs to the minorities. Another barred advertisement deals with “vote ki kheti”, which claimed that RJD, JD(U) and Congress leaders are “giving santuary” to terrorists to appease a particular community for votes. The Opposition alliance had also complained against these, among other BJP ads, to the EC.
BJP chief Amit Shah, addressing an election rally in Raxaul Thursday, had said if the BJP loses the elections, firecrackers will be burst in Pakistan. CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury also demanded that the EC take action against Mr Shah over this remark, and charged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Shah with “patronising and leading” communal forces.
As the Opposition parties attacked Mr Shah over his remark, the BJP maintained its chief’s comments were not unfounded and cited the arrest of Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal from Raxaul in 2013. The BJP claimed the message sought to be conveyed was that whoever was soft with terror were definitely going to be playing into the hands of Pakistan.
JD(U) leader K.C. Tyagi, who was part of the Grand Alliance delegation that submitted a memorandum to the EC, accused Mr Shah of being a “habitual conspirator”, saying he was earlier also debarred from entering Gujarat by a court. The Opposition alliance took strong objection to the BJP’s poll advertisements in the state and sought action, including “complete withdrawal” of these ads and “prosecution” of the perpetrators. “The RSS and BJP are trying to polarise the nation and create an atmosphere like during 1947 days,” he said.
Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala attacked Mr Shah for trying to question the patriotism of Bihar’s nearly 10 crore population.
Claiming that Mr Shah’s remarks were not unfounded, the BJP’s Siddharth Nath Singh said: “Two years back, Yasin Bhatkal was arrested... At the same time Nitish Kumar didn’t want to take Yasin into custody... Nitish didn’t want to show the arrest happened in Bihar. Now what kind of politics is this Isn’t this trying to play votebank politics Soft on terror.” He added: “So, therefore, this comment has come that don’t vote for those who are soft on terror because they become anti-nationalists... Vote for a nationalist party like the BJP because it will strengthen the fight against terrorism...”
