The latest remarks of BJP leader Sadhvi Prachi on “love jihad” and asking Hindu women to have at least four children have ruffled many feathers in the Uttar Pradesh party unit. So much so that State BJP chief Laxmikant Bajpai had to say that Ms. Prachi should sever her ties with the party if she continued to make such controversial statements.
Ms. Prachi, who had contested on a BJP ticket in the last Assembly elections from western Uttar Pradesh, raked up the controversial issue of ‘love jihad’ while addressing an event — ‘Virat Hindu Sammelan’ — organised by the VHP to felicitate Hindus having more than four children in Badaun on Sunday.
“They [Muslims] are trapping our daughters through love jihad. These people who give birth to 35-40 are spreading love jihad. They are trying to make Hindustan into Darul Islam. When I made the remarks, it was as if the country was hit by a quake ... I said I have only advocated four children for Hindus not 40. Why family planning is implemented for Hindus only?” asked the Hindu right wing leader who is one of the accused charged with inciting riots in Muzaffarnagar in 2013.
However, this latest rhetoric of Ms. Prachi has not gone down well with the BJP leadership, particularly after the party has cracked the whip asking its leaders not to raise controversial issues.
“The BJP does not agree with her comments ... We do not think that the comments are correct. The BJP does not want to discuss any issue other than good governance and even the people are not ready to accept any such discussion,” said Mr. Bajpai. He said Ms. Prachi would have to decide whether she wanted to work for the BJP or the VHP.
