Mayawati demands strict action against BJP leader for hate speech targeting Muslims
New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has demanded strict action against BJP leader and former MLA, Raghvendra Pratap Singh for making a hate-filled statement against Muslims. She condemned his remarks as an attempt to sow division, emphasizing that such behavior by criminal and anti-social elements is poisoning society and undermining the rule of law.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Singh, speaking at a public gathering in Siddharth Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, suggested that for every two Hindu girls who convert to Islam, at least ten Muslim girls should be brought and converted to Hinduism. He then asked the young attendees how many were willing to participate, to which they responded by raising their hands. Singh went on to offer rewards including food, drink, and job opportunities for those who brought Muslim girls for conversion. His controversial statement was met with applause from the crowd.
Mayawati condemned Singh’s remarks as “hate speech” in a statement on X, pointing out that it was a deliberate attempt to incite communal and caste-based tensions, not just in Uttar Pradesh but across India. She linked this rhetoric to the broader agenda of anti-social elements exploiting the notion of “Love Jihad”—a term coined by Hindu nationalist groups to promote the idea that Muslim men are systematically targeting Hindu women for conversion through marriage.
She stressed that such individuals represent a serious threat to a civilized society and a constitutional government. Mayawati urged the government to take immediate and firm legal action against those inciting hatred, rather than offering them protection. She called on authorities to prioritize the welfare of India’s millions of citizens and uphold the rule of law.
The term ‘Love Jihad,’ popularized by Hindutva groups, aims to discourage interfaith marriages, particularly between Hindu women and Muslim men. Hindu extremist organizations in India are increasingly using this concept to justify their hostility toward Muslims, portraying such unions as part of a larger conspiracy.
