BJP denies tickets to firebrand leaders: Attempt to move away from Hindutva politics in Rajasthan?
BJP’s second list for Rajasthan polls is out.
Even as the party has not given a ticket to any Muslim in the first two lists, interestingly, it has dropped two of its firebrand leaders. Gyandev Ahuja and Banwari Lal Singhal are the sitting party MLAs from Alwar, whose names do not figure in the first two lists. Both have been known for making vitriolic comments.
In political circles, it is being interpreted as the BJP’s attempt to distance itself from hardcore religion-based politics.
Gyandev Ahuja is the sitting MLA from Ramgarh in Alwar. This time, the BJP has fielded Sukhwant Singh from that seat, whereas from Alwar Urban, Banwari Lal Singhal’s seat, the party has given the ticket to Sanjay Sharma.
Ahuja has recently been at loggerheads with the state BJP leadership. He had demanded the removal of Vasundhara Raje as chief minister after the party’s losses in the by-polls held earlier this year. In an audio clip that had gone viral, he could purportedly be heard claiming that if the current leadership was not removed, the party was doomed, and that he had informed the party leader, Ramlal, that results would be disastrous if the current leadership was not changed.
The BJP had lost in all 17 constituency segments during the by-elections held in Alwar and Ajmer Lok Sabha constituencies and Mandalgarh Assembly constituency.
This, however, was not the only time Ahuja courted controversies. His statements on JNU, about “thousands of condoms being found on the campus daily”, were widely reported. He has supported cow vigilantes on various previous occasions in Alwar.
After being dropped from the list of candidates, he told India Today: “I will not comment on the matter right now. Yes, I have not been given a ticket.”
Banwari Lal Singhal, the BJP MLA from Alwar Urban, is also known for his firebrand politics, and has targeted Muslims in the past. Singhal had earlier claimed that Muslims were “increasing their population to rule the country by 2030”.
“A Hindu couple gives birth to one or two children, whereas Muslim couple is giving birth to 8 to 10, 12, 14 children. Sometimes, Muslim couples buy women in order to give birth to children. Due to this, Muslim population has been increasing at a sharp pace because of which, Hindus’ existence will come under danger. Due to rise in Muslim population, Chief Ministers in more and more states, country's Prime Minister and President will be Muslims. After that, such laws will be made by them that Hindus' existence will come under danger. Muslims will put Hindus in jail and will make use of Hindus' resources themselves... Their only motive is to increase the population to have the country proclaimed as Muslim nation and their only motive seems to be to get control of reins to power in this nation,” Singhal had once said.
Singhal has been less stoic than Ahuja at being denied a ticket.
“I want to say that I am definitely a Hindu, have been born in Hindu community, am a Hindu, will remain a Hindu, there is no doubt in it. If my ticket has been cancelled due to Hindutva agenda, then not just one, I will let go of 100 tickets. I want to say that not just a ticket, I am ready to give up my life for Hindutva in this country. If Hindu is not safe in India, then which caste is safe?,” he said.