Muslims not voting aim to destroy Sanatan, establish Ghazwa-e-Hind: Giriraj Singh

Days after JD(U)'s Sitamarhi MP Devesh Chandra Thakur made the controversial statement that he wouldn’t work for Muslims and Yadavs as they had not voted for him, which is enough to warrant his removal from office for violating his oath under the Constitution, Union Minister and Begusarai MP Giriraj Singh backed Thakur, saying he too was ignored by the Muslim community.

Giriraj Singh went a step further, saying that the Muslims' collective decision not to vote for a particular party was to destroy Sanatan Dharma and establish Ghazwa-e-Hind, The Indian Express reported.

Singh also suggested that the collective voting behaviour of Muslims was a deliberate strategy to weaken the Sanatan community and promote an agenda contrary to Hindu interests.

Meanwhile, the RJD came out condemning Singh’s statement, urging him to restrain from making controversial statements that are divisive in nature, while attacking the BJP for pushing controversies on religious lines even after the Lok Sabha polls.

The backlash was swift, with the RJD condemning the divisive rhetoric. The party stressed that elected representatives should serve all constituents, regardless of religious or caste affiliations. RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari emphasized the need for governance according to the Constitution, rather than personal biases or sentiments.

Thakur's comments were made during a function in Sitamarhi, where he explicitly stated that while Yadavs and Muslims were welcome to visit him, he would not assist them with their issues. This has intensified concerns about growing sectarianism in political discourse.

The controversy reflects deeper tensions within Indian politics, where identity and communal lines often influence voting patterns and political allegiances. Thakur, having defeated RJD's Arjun Rai, a Yadav, in Sitamarhi, voiced his grievances post-election, indicating a perceived betrayal by these communities who did not support him.

Singh, aligning with Thakur’s views, lamented that despite various state and central schemes benefiting all sections, Muslims seemed to consistently avoid voting for him. He framed this as part of a broader, deliberate effort to destabilize Hindu unity in India.

These developments have drawn criticism from various quarters, calling for a more inclusive approach from elected officials.