BJP MP Bandi Sanjay’s comment prompted a strong reprimand from TRS acting chairman KTR.
Political discourse surrounding the upcoming municipal elections in Hyderabad reached a new low on Tuesday, with BJP Telangana state chairman and MP Bandi Sanjay calling for a surgical attack on the Old City area of Hyderabad, which has a high Muslim population. The comment prompted a strong rebuke from TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samithi) acting chairman KT Rama Rao, who wondered aloud on social media whether the BJP leader has “gone completely insane by a few votes and seats.”
The BJP leader was speaking on a political tour, while campaigning for the GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) elections. Speaking at the roadshow, he said: “Once a BJP candidate wins the mayoral position in this election, there will be a surgical strike in patha basti (Old City). It is the responsibility of the BJP to kick out these Rohingya, Pakistani motherfuckers) . ”
Surgical Strike in Hyderabad ?! Has this person gone completely insane for a few votes and seats?@kishanreddybjp Garu, you are MoS for Home Affairs. Do you accept the reprehensible hateful statements of your colleague MP? #NoHatePolítica #HyderabadFirst https://t.co/Mhy9tr0j7f
– KTR (@KTRTRS) November 24, 2020
Bandi Sanjay was referring to comments by AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, questioning what the Union Interior Minister Amit Shah was doing if there were indeed thousands of Rohingya on the list. electoral. However, Owaisi himself was not saying that there were “Rohingya voters” in the city, but was challenging the claims of the BJP leaders who said so.
Bandi Sanjay’s “surgical strike” comment was greeted by his party workers with loud cheers and applause. Bandi Sanjay went on to say: “Elections must occur without the votes of the Rohingya and Pakistani peoples, without Afghan voters. For such elections to occur in Bhagyanagar, it is only possible through the BJP. Those who win by appeasing minorities and Muslim vows are called secular. When BJP stands for 80% of Hindus, to protect the feelings of Hindus, BJP is called a religious party. Yes, BJP works for Hindu dharma.
Hyderabad Old City has a predominantly Muslim population and is considered an AIMIM stronghold. The BJP has repeatedly accused the party of hosting Rohingya refugees, helping them get voter identification cards, Aadhaar and ration cards in exchange for their votes. The United Nations estimates a population of approximately 4,000 to 5,000 Rohingya refugees residing in Hyderabad.
Since the campaign for the GHMC elections began in the city, the BJP has targeted both TRS and AIMIM for their unofficial political alliance. Earlier in the week, Bandi Sanjay accused KCR of having ties to terrorist groups, as TRS had unofficially allied with AIMIM. “As KCR has partnered with MIM, we suspect it has terrorist ties. Watchdog agencies should monitor KCR’s movements, ”Bandi Sanjay tweeted. TRS has filed a complaint with the State Elections Commission over the claims of the BJP leaders.
Responding to the comment of “surgical strike” by Bandi Sanjay, KTR, who is also the Minister of Municipal Administration of the state, said: “Some people are trying to divide and provoke people by getting some votes. Everyone in Hyderabad should think whether they want this to happen. Until yesterday, he (Bandi Sanjay) was asking young people not to bother with traffic rules. Then he called KCR a traitor and said he had terrorist ties. Now I don’t know why they are acting so crazy in an election. They have said they will do a surgical attack in Hyderabad. It is better to fall at the feet of the people and beg for votes than to duck so low. ”
KTR said the BJP is trying to disrupt the peace in Hyderabad by bringing “Hindu-Muslim sentiment.” “They want Hyderabad to suffer just so they can get a few votes,” KTR added.
All 150 districts of Hyderabad will go to the polls on December 1.
Watch: BJP MP Bandi Sanjay Says There Will Be ‘Surgical Strike’ In Hyderabad Old City If BJP Wins GHMC Polls
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