Hindu-Muslim Rhetoric Still High On BJP Agenda As Leaders Seek To Forsake 'Sab Ka Saath...' Motto

The BJP appears to have abandoned its development agenda, with leaders including Suvendu Adhikari, Giriraj Singh, and Himanta Biswa Sarma making statements that are apparently against Muslims.

The Bharatiya Janata Party seems to have given up on its 'vikas' (development) agenda and continues to focus on the Hindu-Muslim rhetoric as it had done during the Lok Sabha elections. At least three different BJP leaders on Wednesday spoke in a manner, which appeared to be against the Muslim community. Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari went as far as to demand that people now forsake Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mantra of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas'.

PM Modi's Anti-Muslim Poll Pitch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Lok Sabha elections spearheaded a poll campaign that was laced with anti-Muslim rhetoric. He claimed that the Congress had promised in its manifesto to redistribute the wealth of Hindus among Muslims. He even said that the Congress planned to snatch Hindu women's mangalsutra and give them to the Muslims.

The Congress, though, did not make any such claim in its manifesto.

'What's The Point Of Muslims Living In India?' 

Union Minister Giriraj Singh even went on to call for sending all Muslims to Pakistan. Giriraj Singh said: "All Muslims should have been sent to Pakistan in 1947 itself. When they took over a separate country in the name of Islam then what was the point of living in India? It was the mistake of our ancestors that they did not send all the Muslims to Pakistan. Muslims are attacking Sanatan."

Giriraj Singh was reacting to Ittehad-e-Millat Council President Maulana Tauqeer Raza's statement on converting Hindus. Tauqeer Raza had earlier announced that he was going to help convert five couples to Islam on July 21 and conduct their nikaah (wedding) as "a large number of Hindus were approaching him" for conversion. Maulana has said that permission has been sought from the district administration for the same.

Giriraj Singh said that it was important to "teach Raza a lesson". He said Muslims stayed back in India after Partition as part of a conspiracy so that they could create such a situation in future.

Himanta's Worry Over Growing Muslim Population

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he was concerned about the "growing Muslim population" in his state. "Changing demography is a big issue for me. In Assam, Muslim population has reached 40% today. In 1951, it was 12%. We have lost many districts. This is not a political issue for me. It is a matter of life and death for me," Sarma said at a press conference.

Sarma is known for raking up Hindu-Muslim issues from time to time. During the polls, Himanta once referred to the Ayodhya Ram Mandir construction and said: "Hindu ko thanda mat karo. Hindu abhi garam hua hai, garam rehne do. Abhi logo ne 'Jai Shri Ram' bolna shuru kiya hai bahut saalo baad. [Don't calm Hindus down. Hindus have just woken up. Let them rise. They have just started saying 'Jai Shri Ram']".

"These 'secular' people will try to cool us down and not let us chant 'Jai Shri Ram'. Can they stop offering namaaz... Hindus will build the nation and bring it glory," Himanta said further.

No More 'Sabka Saath...'? What Suvendu Adhikari Said About Muslims

The disappointment in the Bengal BJP after the poor show in the Lok Sabha polls came to the fore on Wednesday. Leader of Opposition in Bengal and key BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari in his address at the State Working Committee meeting said the BJP will "save Hindus and the Constitution". He called for ending support to the minority and said that the BJP will stand with only those who support the party.

"I have talked about nationalist Muslims. You, too, have talked about 'sabka sath, sabka vikaas'. But no more. We shall stand by those who stand by us... No need for a minority front," he said.

He also said that he faced the risk of being prevented from casting his vote next time. "They won't let me vote in the 2026 [assembly] elections because I am a Hindu. My house will be surrounded by 50 jihadis the police will remain mere spectators. We need to wake up now," he said.

Suvendu Adhikari alleged that Hindus in Bhangar in South 24 Parganas were prevented from voting by TMC MLA Saokat Molla. "Bhangar has been turned to Islamabad," he said.

However, he later said that his remarks were misconstrued.