With two phases remaining in the five-phase Bihar Assembly elections, BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday dropped a bombshell during his campaigning, saying that “crackers will be burst in Pakistan” if his party loses in Bihar.
Addressing a rally in Nepal-bordering Raxaul region of East Champaran district, Shah kicked up a secular versus communal debate by commenting: “If by any chance the BJP loses this election, while winning and losing will happen in this country, crackers will be burst in celebration in Pakistan. Would you want that to happen?”
“No”, the crowd responded to Shah’s statement which was lapped up by the opposition to counter remark that it was an attempt to polarise voters.
To bolster his often repeated charge that the rival grand alliance of the JD(U), RJD and the Congress will revive the jungle raj witnessed by the state when Lalu Prasad was the chief minister. Shah also told the gathering that gangsters like Mohammad Shahabuddin, a RJD leader presently lodged in jail, will celebrate if they win.
The BJP president repeated the charge Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a few days back that the grand alliance was contemplating to give away a share of reservation quota meant for the backward castes and Dalits to minorities.
The Opposition parties see these as polarising statements as the Seemanchal region, populated by Muslims,will vote in the fifth phase. The fifth phase is the weakest for the BJP.
JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said the party would complain to the Election Commission on Friday since it is a blatant attempt to polarise the elections.