After Suresh Tiwari, the Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Barhaj, Uttar Pradesh asked people in Deoria district not to buy vegetables from Muslim vendors amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, another BJP MLA was seen in a video threatening a Muslim vegetable vendor to not make sales in his area. The video is being circulated on social media.
“Do not enter this area again, otherwise we will thrash you and set you right,” BJP MLA Brij Bhushan Rajput from Charkhari constituency of Uttar Pradesh was heard telling the Muslim vegetable vendor. The vegetable seller allegedly gave a false Hindu name. The vendor’s son, who was accompanying him, was coaxed into giving away the real name after Rajput told him that it would “save his father”.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Rajput confirmed that he indeed was the person talking to the vegetable seller in the video. “I reprimanded him because he was lying, and not wearing a face mask and gloves,” the MLA said. The video, however, shows that the vendor was wearing a black mask.
According to a report by News18 Hindi, the MLA said that the government should issue identity cards to those who are involved in the supply of essential commodities to make sure that they are not associated with Pakistan or their Inter-Services Intelligence.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!