KATIHAR – Cricketer-turned-comedian-turned-politician Navjot Sidhu has stoked controversy by urging Muslim voters of Katihar Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar with sizeable population of the minority community to vote en bloc and defeat (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi.
The controversial comment, which is similar to Mayawati’s comments in Uttar Pradesh’s Deoband, by former BJP MP at a rally in Katihar, where he was canvassing in support of former NCP leader and now Congress politician Tariq Anwar, drew an angry response from BJP.
“You constitute the majority here. You are about 64 per cent. Do not fall into the trap laid down by people like Owaisi (president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen). They have been propped up by the BJP,” Sidhu had said on Monday at a rally held at Barasol, in Balrampur assembly segment falling under Katihar Lok Sabha seat in Bihar.
The Punjab minister, who has been campaigning for his party in the Seemanchal region of Bihar, appeared to have mixed up Katihar with neighboring Kishanganj where Muslims are in the majority and AIMIM has put up a candidate.
FIR against Sidhu
District authorities in Katihar have lodged an FIR against Congress leader Navjot Sidhu for his remarks in Bihar, state chief electoral officer said Tuesday.
“An FIR has been lodged against Sidhu under a section Indian Penal Code and section 123 (3) of the Representation of the People Act,” Bihar CEO H R Srinivasa said.
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