Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], October 22 : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday slammed Union Minister Giriraj Singh for his "namak haram' remarks targeting Muslims, and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action against him.
Taking a veiled jibe at the BJP, Abdullah said that its leaders resort to such statements during elections, claiming their "weak" position on the ground.
He said, "It is regrettable if a Union Minister says such things. However, these individuals often engage in this behaviour during elections, as they have no work to show for it, their position on the ground is weak, so they create religious unrest."
Further, he criticised the BJP's protest against three unidentified women after a purported video showing them offering namaz on the premises of Pune's historic Shaniwar Wada.
"After offering namaz, they wash the area with Ganga Jal. Such statements are issued against Muslims. This is their habit during elections. Then they say that they represent every Indian. If every Indian is being represented, then the Prime Minister should take action against these ministers after seeing these statements. Otherwise, what signal is being sent?" he said.
Earlier, Giriraj Singh, during a BJP rally in Arwal ahead of the Bihar assembly polls, targeted Muslims while addressing the opposition Mahagathbandhan, asserting that his party does not seek the votes of "Namak Harams" (ungrateful people).
He even defended his statement and hit out at the opposition, stating that the government has not discriminated between Hindus and Muslims in its various welfare schemes.
Speaking to ANI in Begusarai, Singh said, "Some people say that consuming 'Haram' is wrong in their religion. Islam says that consuming free food is 'Haram'. Are they not taking a 5 kg ration? Did both Hindus and Muslims not get Pradhanmantri Awas? Did both Hindus and Muslims not get toilets? Was there any discrimination between Hindus and Muslims in the Nal-Jal scheme, gas cylinder, or 5 kg ration?"
Meanwhile, Abdullah's remarks came after the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference held a meeting along with several independent MLAs to strategise for the Rajya Sabha polls in the Union Territory.
Abdullah also expressed confidence in getting support from Congress for victory on all four Rajya Sabha seats.
Speaking to reporters, he said, "This session is different from other sessions. Rajya Sabha elections will be held after 10 years in Jammu and Kashmir. We decided on a strategy in the meeting so that the National Conference wins all four seats. I thank Tarigami and other independent leaders, who joined the meeting."
When asked about Congress holding a separate meeting, he said that the party leadership in the Union Territory waits for the high command's signal. He added that Congress would not support the BJP.
He said, "They had their own meeting. They have reiterated that they would not support the BJP. They have their own way; their leadership here has to wait for the high command's signal. This is not new, and no one should have a problem with it. Their high command would not signal to favour the BJP.
NC MLA Muzaffar Iqbal Khan said, "In the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, four members will be elected. The government will face questions from both the opposition and its supporters. The current government has only been in power for about ten months now; planning and ground delivery have not yet commenced. They should also ask about the previous fifteen years of the opposition's rule to provide a fair assessment."
Independent MLA Shabir Ahmad Kullay, who took part in NC's meeting, said, "We will have discussions on the Rajya Sabha elections...I will vote in the Rajya Sabha, but I have very few options."
The polls for four Rajya Sabha seats will be held on October 24. All four Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir have been vacant since February 2021, after the retirement of Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mir Mohammad Fayaz, Shamsher Singh, and Nazir Ahmed Laway.