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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Rishabh Pant overtakes Kohli in Test rankings
Dubai, Oct 23: Rishabh Pant on Wednesday overtook his superstar India teammate Virat Kohli to reach the sixth spot in the ICC Test rankings for batters.
Fresh from a counter-attacking 99 in the second innings of the opening Test against New Zealand, Pant gained three spots in the rankings while Kohli, who made a fluent 70 in Bengaluru, dropped a place to be eighth.
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal remains India's highest ranked batter at four. India captain Rohit Sharma dropped two places to be joint 15th alongside Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne.
England star Joe Root maintains a healthy lead at the top of the charts.
New Zealand duo of Rachin Ravindra (up 36 places to 18th) and Devon Conway (up 12 spots to 36th) also made good ground on the latest list for Test batters, while teammate Matt Henry (up two rungs to ninth with a new career-high rating) was the big winner in bowlers' category.
Henry picked up eight wickets during the Black Caps' drought-breaking eight-wicket victory over India in Bengaluru, while teammate Will O'Rourke (up two spots to 39th) was also rewarded for his seven scalps from the same match.
Pakistan spinner Noman Ali was re-instated at 17th on the rankings following his 11 wickets across two innings against England, while teammate Sajid Khan gained 22 places to move to 50th after he was adjudged Player of the Match in the same contest.
India's pace spearhead remains at the top of the bowlers' rankings followed by teammate R Ashwin. Retaining the seventh sport, Ravindra Jadeja is another Indian in the top-10.
