Giriraj Singh sparks controversy with ‘namak haraam’ remark on Muslim voters

BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh. PIC/X@girirajsinghbjp

Union minister Giriraj Singh has once again courted controversy by making a scathing remark against the Muslim community, saying that he doesn't need the votes of ‘namak haraams' (betrayers).

His remarks came while addressing a public rally for the poll-bound state in Bihar's Arwal. The BJP MP from Begusarai said, "Once I asked a ‘maulvi' (cleric) whether he had Ayushman Bharat health card and he replied in the affirmative. I asked whether such cards were distributed on the basis of Hindu-Muslim and he replied in the negative."

‘When I asked him whether he had voted for me, he replied in the affirmative but when I asked him to swear on Khuda (God), he said no, he didn't. Muslims take the benefits of all central schemes but don't vote for us... Such people are called ‘namak haraam'. I told maulvi sahab that I don't want votes of ‘namak haraams,'" he added.

"I also asked him whether I had insulted him, to which he said ‘no'. Then I asked him what my fault was that he did not vote for me. Someone who doesn't acknowledge kindness is called ‘namak haraam,'" the Union minister said. The NDA government has done a lot of infrastructural work for the overall development of Bihar, Singh said.

AIMIM chief Assaduddin Owaisi. FILE PIC

"Roads have been built in Bihar not only for NDA leaders and workers but for the masses. Bihar has changed now. The NDA government works for every section of society, but Muslims do not vote for the BJP," he said.

Echoing a similar view, JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said, "It is true that the central government never discriminates in the distribution of welfare measures to the beneficiaries... Still, it does not get the votes of a particular community. This is certainly a matter of concern. As far as language and the terminology used in his (Giriraj Singh) speech is concerned, he is free to use words as per his choice."

Reacting to Singh's statement, RJD state unit spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwary said, "It's a well-known fact that BJP leaders can't say anything except Hindu-Muslim. They can't talk about growing unemployment, price hikes, better education and medical facilities. Whenever you talk to them about development, they start discussions on Hindu-Muslim issues and try their best to divert the attention of people from core issues."

Independent Lok Sabha MP from Purnea, Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, slammed the Union minister for his comments. The 243-member Bihar Assembly will go to polls in two phases on November 6 and 11, with results set to be announced on November 14.

AIMIM announces candidates' list

The Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM, which had vowed to contest ‘100 seats' in the Bihar polls upon being spurned by the INDIA bloc, on Sunday announced 25 candidates, including two non-Muslims. The list, which includes the name of Akhtarul Iman, the state president of AIMIM and its lone MLA in Bihar, was shared by the party on X. "We are happy to announce the list for the upcoming Bihar elections. The candidates were finalised by AIMIM's Bihar Unit, in consultation with the party's national leadership. Inshallah, we will be a voice of justice for Bihar's weakest and most neglected," said the post on X.