Raghavendra Pratap Singh, a former BJP MLA, is currently facing significant controversy due to his recent remarks. During a public gathering, he proposed offering financial assistance for marriages and providing employment opportunities to Hindu youths who successfully bring ten Muslim girls to convert to Hinduism. Singh stated that this initiative was intended as a response to two reported instances of Hindu girls marrying Muslim men.
These comments have already generated considerable public outcry. According to reports, Singh, who previously served as the MLA for the Domariyaganj assembly constituency in Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharth Nagar district, made these statements on October 16th in Dhankharpur village. A video capturing this speech has since gone viral.
In response, the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and the Congress have called for immediate action against the former MLA, condemning his statements as “inflammatory” and “shameful.”
What exactly did the former BJP MLA say?
Singh articulated his position by saying, “If a Hindu girl goes with a Muslim boy, is it not an insult to the whole Hindu community? If two have gone, then bringing two is not enough. Bring at least ten Muslim girls and make them Hindu, and we will bear all expenses of marriage, give security and provide a job for a comfortable livelihood.” These statements were captured in video clips circulating on social media.
He further added that in previous administrations, Hindus reportedly lived in fear, but under the current Yogi government, such fear is unnecessary.
BSP chief Mayawati demands strict action
BSP chief Mayawati has also voiced her demand for stringent action against individuals who promote communal and casteist hatred. She described the statement as “narrow-minded and hateful” and condemned the elements who spread “communal and casteist hatred, unrest, anarchy in UP, Uttarakhand, and other states in the name of religious conversion, love jihad… and taking the law into their own hands.” Mayawati emphasized that such anti-social elements pose a direct challenge to governance, and that governments should take strict legal action instead of offering support.
Congress and BJP also condemn the remarks
The Congress party has criticized the former MLA’s remarks as “shameful,” accusing the BJP of propagating hatred and fostering religious division within society. Saiyada Khatoon, an MLA from Domariyaganj representing the Samajwadi Party, characterized the comments as “beyond tolerance, utterly misogynistic and blatant objectification of women.” She further stated that the remarks were an insult to women and a demeaning display, potentially part of a political agenda, but ultimately disgraceful.
When questioned by the media about the controversy, Singh remained defiant, reiterating his stance.