Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh during the ‘BJP Road Show’ in support of BJP candidate in Begusarai Kundan Kumar on Friday in Begusarai. | Photo credit: ANI
Union minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Giriraj Singh sparked controversy with his remarks at a rally in Arwal on October 18, where he said he did not want the votes of “namak haram” (traitors) when he spoke about Muslims. His comments went viral on social media the next day.
In the video clip, Mr. Singh criticized members of the minority community for not voting for the BJP despite, he claimed, benefiting from various government schemes.
Narrating the conversation with the cleric, Mr Singh said: “I asked the cleric whether he had received an Ajushman card or not, he said yes. Then I asked if there was any discrimination between Hindus and Muslims. He said, ‘No.’ Then I asked, ‘Did you vote for me?’ He said, ‘Yes’, but when I asked him to swear in the name of Allah, he said he did not vote.”
He added in the gathering that those who do not acknowledge kindness are called “namak haram”. “I clearly told the cleric that we do not want the votes of ‘traitors’,” Mr Singh said.
The statement drew sharp criticism from opposition parties. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Mirtunjay Tiwari accused the Union minister of trying to foment communal divisions. “Whenever elections are held in any state, BJP leaders always play the Hindu-Muslim card. They cannot think ahead. This is the same leader who earlier said that those who will not vote for BJP will be sent to Pakistan. BJP has ruled the Center for 11 years; have they sent anyone to Pakistan?” said Mr. Tiwari in Patna.
He added, “Even the people of Bihar have had enough of such leaders and are not going to support those who believe in distributing swords.”
Purnea MP Rajesh Ranjan, alias Pappu Yadav, also slammed Mr Singh, saying: “First the BJP leader should look within himself and identify who were the traitors during the freedom struggle. Identify India’s biggest enemies – those who served the British and maintained their rule were traitors.”
Meanwhile, the Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which had earlier announced plans to contest 100 seats in Bihar, on Sunday released its first list of 25 candidates, including two non-Muslims.
The list includes state president and sitting MLA Akhtarul Iman, who was renominated from Amour. Former Rajya Sabha MP Sabir Ali, who was expelled from the Janata Dal (United) 11 years ago, will contest from the same constituency where he was replaced by Saba Zafar, who quit in 2020.
Most of the AIMIM candidates hail from the Seemanchal region, a flood-prone region in northeast Bihar with a high Muslim population. In Sikandra constituency, the party has fielded Manoj Kumar Das, while Rana Ranjeet Singh will contest in Dhaka.
The party announced the list on X saying, “We are happy to announce the list of AIMIM candidates for the upcoming elections in Bihar. The candidates have been finalized by the Bihar unit of AIMIM in consultation with the party’s national leadership. Inshallah, we will be the voice of justice for the weakest and most neglected.”
Published – 19 Oct 2025 21:56 IST
