A major political storm is brewing in Bihar following remarks made by Union Minister and prominent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Giriraj Singh. Speaking at a rally in Arwal on October 18, Singh declared he had no desire for the votes of ‘namak haram‘ (betrayers), a term he used in reference to members of the Muslim community. These inflammatory comments quickly spread across social media, igniting a widespread debate.
Footage from the rally shows Mr. Singh criticizing the minority community, alleging they failed to vote for the BJP even after supposedly benefiting from numerous government welfare programs.
He further elaborated on a conversation with a local cleric: “I questioned the cleric if he had received the Ayushman card, to which he affirmed. I then inquired if there was any discrimination between Hindus and Muslims, and he denied it. When I asked if he had voted for me, he initially said yes, but when pressed to swear upon Allah, he admitted he had not cast his vote for me.”
Singh then explained to the crowd that individuals who fail to acknowledge received benefits are labeled “namak haram.” He concluded by stating, “I explicitly informed the cleric that we do not seek the votes of ‘betrayers’.”
These polarizing comments immediately triggered strong condemnation from opposition parties. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Mirtunjay Tiwari sharply criticized the Union Minister, accusing him of deliberately fueling communal tensions. “Whenever elections approach in any state, BJP leaders consistently resort to playing the Hindu-Muslim card, seemingly incapable of broader political discourse. This is the same leader who previously threatened to send non-BJP voters to Pakistan. Despite the BJP governing the Centre for 11 years, has anyone actually been deported to Pakistan?” Mr. Tiwari questioned from Patna.
He further added, “The people of Bihar are weary of such divisive leaders and will not endorse those who advocate for ‘distributing swords’ – a metaphor for promoting discord.”
Purnea Member of Parliament, Rajesh Ranjan, also known as Pappu Yadav, joined the chorus of critics, urging Mr. Singh to first introspect: “The BJP leader should first examine his own history and identify the true traitors from the freedom struggle. India’s greatest enemies were those who served the British and prolonged their rule – those were the real betrayers.”
In a related development, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, released its initial list of 25 candidates for the upcoming Bihar elections on Sunday. This move comes after the party’s previous announcement to contest 100 seats, with the first list notably including two non-Muslim candidates.
Key figures on the list include Akhtarul Iman, the state president and current MLA, who will once again represent Amour. Notably, former Rajya Sabha MP Sabir Ali, expelled from the Janata Dal (United) over a decade ago, will also vie for a seat in the same constituency, replacing Saba Zafar, who was the runner-up in 2020.
The majority of AIMIM’s chosen candidates hail from the Seemanchal region of north-eastern Bihar, an area characterized by its susceptibility to floods and a significant Muslim population. For instance, Manoj Kumar Das has been nominated for the Sikandra constituency, and Rana Ranjeet Singh for Dhaka.
AIMIM shared the candidate list on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “We are delighted to announce our AIMIM candidates for the forthcoming Bihar elections. These selections were made by our Bihar Unit in close consultation with the national leadership. Inshallah (God willing), we aspire to be a strong voice for Bihar’s most vulnerable and overlooked communities.”