The BJP in parliament often has to distance itself from communal remarks made by its leaders. An MP Sakshi Maharaj got into some trouble saying in Meerut that Muslims believed having four wives and forty children and this was the cause of the rising population of India.Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that such a comment had nothing to do with the attitude of the union government and BJP. Unfortunately, the party does precious little to penalize leaders for trying to incite hatred against Muslims or other minority communities. Sakshi Maharaj had earlier called Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin a patriot. He also asked Hindu women to have four children each to save Hinduism from being swamped by Muslims. Another BJP leader compared Shah Rukh Khan to a known terrorist when the actor criticized the atmosphere of religious intolerance in the country. BJP leader Giriraj Singh wished to send all critics of Narendra Modi to Pakistan. That may apply even to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. These leaders got away with their outrageous statements.
The election in Uttar Pradesh creates a different scenario. Last July BJP expelled Dayashankar Singh, Vice President of the BJP in UP for calling Mayawati a prostitute. That is because the party is going all out to recapture the state. The Supreme Court has now outlawed campaigning for votes on grounds of religion or caste. The Election Commission has also issued a warning to the political parties that it will not allow such action. Political parties have to be on guard. Sakshi Maharaj violated the directive and the Election Commission has issued a notice to him. One wonders if it will lead to serious action. The MP cannot be excused because he was speaking to an assembly of holy men. It is time that the Election Commission turned its heat on the BJP.
