BJP leader threatens Muslims to vote for BJP in Barabanki

In Yogi Raj, BJP leader Ranjit Bahadur Srivastava has threatened Muslim voters to either vote for BJP or prepare themselves for dire consequences.

He made the statement while campaigning for his wife Shashi Srivastava in Barabanki. Srivastava’s wife is contesting the state civic polls from Barabanki district.

The President of Barabanki's former municipal council addressed a gathering on November 13 and said that he had mentioned this before “this is a BJP government and not a Samajwadi government”.

The BJP leader warned the people that they didn't have the option of going to the Superintendent of Police or District Magistrate who would help them.

“You (Muslims) do not have anyone to be on your side in Bharatiya Janata Party. If you do not vote for BJP candidates, if you do not vote for my wife, not even Samajwadi Party will be able to save you. That is why I am saying to Muslims, vote for us. If you vote for BJP you will be happy, else you will have to face problems,” Srivastava said.

Srivastava was sharing the stage with Minister of Social Welfare and Minister of SC & ST Welfare Ramapati Shastri and Cabinet Minister Dara Singh Chauhan, who didn't raise any objection to the leader’s remark.

Reportedly, Srivastava, speaking to ETV later, explained that he didn't threaten Muslims but tried to persuade them to vote for the BJP.

“I was just trying to make them understand that there is a huge difference between Hindu and Muslims and these differences should come to an end,” he said.

However, seconds later, Srivastava added that if Muslims didn't understand, it's not the Hindus who would regret but they themselves. “If someone thinks that I am threatening, I am ready to threaten a thousand times more”

He also claimed that BJP was a party of “Mards”(real men) -- PM Narendra Modi, CM yogi Adityanath, and he himself. “I won the election last time with 675 Hindu votes, remaining 33 per cent votes didn't matter. I am not begging for their (Muslims) votes.