'Become Hindu if you want to live in Araria,' says BJP MP at Giriraj Singh's Swabhiman Yatra

A BJP MP from Bihar has come under scrutiny after a video of his went viral in which he said those willing to live in his constituency, Araria, have to become Hindus.

MP Pradeep Kumar Singh made the comment during an event for the five-day Hindu Swabhiman Yatra being helmed by Union Minister Giriraj Singh.

Giriraj has taken out the yatra claiming that Hindus are under threat and needed to be "organised".

“What shame is there in calling yourself a Hindu? If one has to live in Araria, he has to become Hindu,” Pradeep Kumar Singh said at a rally in the premises of Thakurbadi temple.

“Look out for your caste when you have to marry your sons and daughters but when there is need of Hindu unity, you must be a Hindu first and put your caste behind,” the MP had also said in the presence of the minister.

Religious leader Dipankar Maharaj was also present at the gathering, The Hindu reported.

RJD leader and former Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav slammed both Pradip Singh's comment and the yatra in a video message.

"The way Giriraj Singh is organising a yatra (Hindu Swabhiman Yatra)... and the absurd statement given by BJP's Araria MP... there's an attempt to create rift and riots between two communities. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has always been a party of social justice and secularism. We have always sacrificed whenever needed. We have always fought against communal and feudal forces and will keep doing so," he said in the video.

Pradeep Singh became an MP from a constituency where 40 per cent of the total population are Muslims.

However, Giriraj Singh has himself not fallen behind in making controversial comments. In Kishanganj, from where his yatra had also passed, he called upon the people to have a stockpile of "spears, swords and tridents" in their homes which could be used as part of the worship of deities as well as for "self-defence".

"Before coming to Kishanganj, I have toured adjoining districts of Araria, Katihar and Purnea. Everywhere people shared their concerns about the honour of their sisters and daughters," claimed the Union minister, who represents Begusarai Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar.

"I have been told that every year a number of Hindu girls fall prey to love jihad which is followed by their conversion (to Islam). No case is registered against the culprits who keep misbehaving with women not ready to fall into their trap," alleged Singh. He, however, did not cite specific incidents to back his comments.

The term ‘love jihad’ is used by right-wing groups to allege a ploy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into religious conversion through marriage.

The BJP leader claimed: "I have learnt that in places where Hindus are far outnumbered by Muslims, their temples are vandalised and their religious practices like wearing of vermilion by women are interfered with."

He also alleged that Christian missionaries are also active in this area but they are targeting only Hindus.

Singh also called upon Hindus to become united.

The minister also claimed that almost every Hindu god and goddess carries a trident, a sword or a spear which denoted that "sacredness was backed by strength".

"So I ask you all to keep these items at your homes. Worship these after getting these consecrated and use these in self-defence when the need arises," added the BJP leader.

He also blamed the "refusal of Nehru to ensure a full exchange of population, upon Partition, as suggested by Ambedkar" and the "influx of infiltrators allowed by Indira Gandhi during the 1971 war with Pakistan" for the situation in the country.

With PTI inputs

Disclaimer: DH has not independently verified the video in question.