A controversial statement, which amounts to a violation of the oath he took while swearing in as an MLA over the Constitution, was made by BJP legislator from Bihar, Engineer Shailendra, who said he did not mind Muslim votes and accused Muslims of being a threat to national security, calling upon them to control their population.
Speaking at a public gathering in his Bihpur constituency, Shailendra expressed dissatisfaction with Muslim voting patterns and publicly declared his refusal to accept Muslim votes, emphasizing a preference for a political base that excludes the community.
The legislator further stirred tensions by alleging that Muslims were responsible for creating disorder in the country and opposing those who support Sanatan Dharma. He also raised provocative questions regarding Muslim involvement in acts of violence, including claiming that Muslims were behind incidents related to temples and mosques.
These comments were widely interpreted as an attempt to portray Muslims as a security threat and to deepen divisions between the Hindu-majority population and the religious minority.
In addition to his comments on national security, Shailendra made controversial remarks about population control, suggesting that large Muslim families were harmful to the nation's progress. This divisive statement, drawing on long-standing communal stereotypes, has been condemned by critics as discriminatory and inflammatory.
The remarks have caused an uproar, drawing strong condemnation from opposition parties, particularly the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which accused Shailendra of using communal rhetoric to polarize voters ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. Opposition leaders argue that such statements threaten to destabilize the state’s social harmony and fuel sectarian divisions.
Shailendra’s statements come at a time of heightened political activity in Bihar, as parties prepare for the upcoming elections. Many see his remarks as a strategic attempt to consolidate the BJP's Hindu vote base by invoking nationalist sentiments and religious identity. The controversy underscores the BJP’s ongoing use of divisive rhetoric to appeal to its core supporters, particularly from the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Hindu communities.
The political fallout from Shailendra’s remarks is already evident, with his comments intensifying communal tensions in Bihar.