UP: BJP leader threatens Muslims, says vote for my wife or face difficulties

Lucknow: It cannot get more brazen than this. A local BJP leader in Barabanki, while campaigning for his wife in the ongoing municipal elections, warned Muslims that they would face ‘difficulties’ if they did not vote for her.

Ranjeet Bahadur Srivastava, the outgoing head of the Nagar Palika Parishad, has fielded his wife Shashi Srivastava for the post this time since the seat has been reserved for women. Two days ago, in his speech Srivastava told people,“Isliye, main Musalmano se keh raha hun, vote de dena. Bheekh nahi maang raha hun. Agar vote doge, to sukhi rahoge. Agar vote nahin doge, to jo kasht jheloge uska andaza tumko khud lag jayega. (Therefore, I am asking Muslims to cast your vote for us. I am not begging. If you vote for us, you will be better off. If you do not vote for us, you cannot imagine the kind of difficulties you will face).” A video recording of Ranjeet Bahadur Srivastava’s speech has gone viral on the social media.