In an attempt to further polarise the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Tuesday indulged in communal politics after he asked Muslims to unite and vote for the Congress party to remove Modi and the BJP.
According to the reports, speaking at a rally at Katihar in Bihar, Navjot Singh Sidhu stirred a massive controversy after he sought votes for Congress party candidate Tariq Anwar on the religious lines. Navjot Singh Sidhu said that the Muslims must come together and destroy the BJP with their solidarity.
“I am warning you, my Muslim brothers, you are nearly 64% of the total population here. They are dividing you by bringing people like Owaisi. They will come up with a new party to divide the Hindus and the Muslims. However, The majority community (Hindus) of the country are a minority in this constituency, if you (Muslims) unite together and vote then Modi and the BJP will be decimated,” he said.
#WATCH Bihar:N Sidhu says in Katihar ‘Main aapko chetavni dene aya hun Muslim bhaiyon,ye baant rahe hain apko,ye yahan Owaisi jaise logon ko la ke,ek nai party khadi kar aap logon ka vote baant ke jitna chahte hain.Agar tum log ikathe hue,ekjut hoke vote dala to Modi sulat jaega’ pic.twitter.com/PQlIjm4oW2
— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2019
The statements from Navjot Singh Sidhu is not very surprising as the Congress party has now taken an open stand to indulge in minority appeasement. The Congress President Rahul Gandhi has himself decided to contest from a minority dominated Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala after sensing a defeat in Amethi constituency against Union Minister Smriti Irani.
Navjot Singh Sidhu’s direct appeal to Muslims comes days after Mayawati made a similar pitch in Uttar Pradesh’s Deoband and paid with consequences as she was barred from campaigning for 48 hours by the Election Commission. The Model Code of Conduct bars candidates from seeking votes on communal or religious lines.
This is not the first time Sidhu is indulging in such controversies. Earlier, he had visited Pakistan to attend the swearing-in ceremony of close friend Imran Khan and his hug to the Pakistan army chief Qamar Bajwa stirred a massive row in India. Navjot Singh Sidhu had also caused a severe controversy after he posed with dreaded Khalistani terrorist Gopal Singh Chawla during his controversial visit to Pakistan to attend the Kartarpur corridor launch ceremony.
