Patna: Devesh Chandra Thakur, newly elected JD (U) MP for Sitamarhi in Bihar, said on Monday that he would ‘not do any work’ for Muslims and Yadavs claiming that they had not voted for him in the Lok Sabha elections.
Thakur was widely criticised for his remarks with his rival RJD and his own party’s Banka MP taking on him, demanding an apology.
Defeating RJD’s Arjun Rai, Thakur stepped down as chairperson of the Bihar Legislative Council and was addressing a gathering at Sitamarhi when he made the remarks.
Thakur told the gathering “Yadav aur Musalman hamare yahan aate hain to unka swagat hai. Chai pijiye, mithai khaiye. Lekin main aapka koi kaam nahi karunga (Yadavs and Muslims who come to me are welcome. They can have tea and sweets. But I will not do any work for them),” he said.
Later Thakur told the reporters that he stood by his remarks, adding ‘I have been saying it for some time. I have been working for people for the last 25 years without any discrimination.’
Thankur did not give any explanation when asked how he concluded Yadavs and Muslims had not voted for him.
Condemning Thakur’s remarks, RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari said ‘His remarks are defamatory, casteist and anti-religion. It shows the feudalistic attitude of Thakur.”
Alongside, his own party JD (U)’s Banka MP Giridhari Yadav said: “I condemn the statement of Thakur and demand an immediate apology from him.”
BJP OBC Morcha national general secretary Nikhil Anand reacted to Thakur saying: “Giving vent to frustration in a manner that smacks of caste prejudice is shameful and deplorable in politics. The BJP takes all social segments along. In Bihar, no political party can succeed if it tries to marginalise Yadavs, who are 14 per cent of the total population.”