Have to be Hindu to live in Araria, says Bihar BJP MLA Pradeep Kumar Singh
Patna: A video featuring Pradeep Kumar Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Araria in northeast Bihar, has gone viral on social media after he remarked that those seeking to live in Araria must become Hindus.
During an event for Union Minister for Textile and Begusarai MP Giriraj Singh’s ongoing five-day Hindu Swabhiman Yatra, Pradeep Kumar made the controversial remarks, stating, “What shame is there in calling yourself a Hindu? If one has to live in Araria, he has to become Hindu.” His comments were met with applause and cheers from the audience.
Notably, Pradeep Singh represents a constituency where approximately 40 percent of the population is Muslim. He further urged attendees to prioritise Hindu unity over caste affiliations, stating, “Look out for your caste when you have to marry your sons and daughters, but when there is a need for Hindu unity, you must be a Hindu first and put your caste behind.”
In response, RJD leader and former Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav slammed Pradeep Singh's statements and the yatra, claiming they aim to sow discord between communities. “The way Giriraj Singh is organising this yatra and the provocative statement made by BJP's Araria MP... there's an attempt to create rift and riots between two communities," Yadav said in a video message. He emphasised that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) stands for social justice and secularism and will continue to fight against communal and feudal forces.
This is Pradeep Singh, the Member of Parliament from Araria. You must be familiar with him, but sadly, the very Constitution on which he swore an oath, he is now violating. He understands that the tide is turning, every community and every section of society is becoming educated,… pic.twitter.com/21AAp5fQDd
— Akhyarul Hoda (@AkhyarTweets18) October 22, 2024
VIDEO | "The way Giriraj Singh is organising a yatra
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 23, 2024
(Hindu Swabhiman Yatra)... and the absurd statement given by BJP's Araria MP... there's an attempt to create rift and riots between two communities. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has always been a party of social justice and… pic.twitter.com/MZsPGF50Lu
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Fan tries to die by suicide over Nikhil Kumaraswamy's bypoll loss
Bengaluru: Channapatna JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who lost the byelection to C.P. Yogeshwar of Congress, on Sunday consoled a fan who reportedly attempted to end his life and requested him not to repeat such acts.
Manjunath, fondly called Abhi, had even penned a letter before taking the dangerous step. Nikhil, who called on Manjunath at the latter’s home in Kudloor in Channapatna, expressed shock and sadness over the incident.
Nikhil Kumaraswamy reassured Manjunath, expressing his support during the difficult time. He told him that he was deeply troubled to learn of this incident and emphasised that he would stand by him. Nikhil also promised to offer assistance in any way he could, including helping him secure employment opportunities in the future, as reported by the Deccan Herald.
He also reminded Manjunath of the importance of his children’s well-being, urging him to focus on their future. “Please, look at the faces of your growing children. Even I have a three-year-old son. The children are young, let us take care of their future also. I will arrange some job opportunities for you. I might not be an MLA but this is a challenge. I will get you employed,” he said.
Nikhil told media persons that he is extremely hurt more by Manjunath’s attempt to die than by his loss in the election. “At 7:30 a.m., we got a message that in Valetoopu, Manjunath had consumed poison yesterday. In Channapatna, our workers and leaders have built this party with zeal. Let the admiration be there in your hearts but if it crosses the line, your families get hurt and we get very pained by it,” he was quoted as saying by the publication.
Speaking of his byelection loss, Nikhil reiterated that the JD(S) had got its traditional votes, but that the votes of a particular community went against the party.
“Deve Gowda gave reservation to a community. We tried our last attempt to take that community into confidence. But they conveyed to us that they do not require us. In future, we will take other communities into confidence,” he remarked in a veiled reference to Muslims.
Nikhil lost the election by a margin of 25,413 votes to Congress candidate C.P. Yogeshwar.
