'Won't seek Muslim votes, won't attend their joys and sorrows': UP BJP leader stirs controversy, party distances itself

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Suresh Pasi, a senior BJP leader from Uttar Pradesh, has stirred controversy after he said that he won't be visiting Muslim households ever to ask for votes and would also not attend their "joys and sorrows".

In a viral video, the Jagdishpur MLA said, "I never visit mosques, have not visited in past and will neither visit in future. I do not go to seek votes, nor do I attend their joys and sorrows." NDTV reported that the MLA also said that he will never visit Muslim households to ask for votes.

Meanwhile, after the leader made the controversial remark, the party has distanced itself from him. BJP's Amethi district president Sudhanshu Shukla said, "The BJP believes in 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas'. This is the party's clear stand. What Suresh Pasi said is his personal opinion."

Congress has slammed BJP over the issue and said that the statement made by Pai is politically motivated.

"Whenever elections approach, BJP leaders resort to such statements. They try to pit brother against brother, one religion against another and one caste against another, only to secure votes. This is all drama," he alleged, as reported by NDTV.

Samajwadi Party district president Ram Udit Yadav also reacted on the issue and said that the statement is an attempt to spread hate. "Creating Hindu-Muslim divisions is the BJP's politics. Suresh Pasi belongs to that party, and for votes, the BJP can go to any extent," Yadav said.