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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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
