NEW DELHI: Vinay Katiyar , member of Parliament belonging to BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP), issued a controversial statement saying “Muslims shouldnot even be living in this country, they should go to Pakistan orBangladesh”.
The population of Muslims in India is roughly estimated at around 179million.
Katiyar, who founded the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) youth wing, BajrangDal, further said a bill should be introduced in Parliament that frames apunishment for those “who do not respect Vande Mataram, (and) those whoinsult the national flag, or hoist the Pakistani flag.”[image: Vinay Katiyar]
Vinay Katiyar
Katiyar’s comment was reportedly in response to politician Asaduddin Owaisibelonging to All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen who demanded theframing of a law to punish anyone who calls an Indian Muslim a “Pakistani”.
Katiyar further claimed that “Muslims partitioned the country” on religiouslines.
“Muslims shouldn’t even be living in this country, they’re the ones whopartitioned this country based on their population, so why do they need tolive here? They were given separate territory, they should go to Pakistanor Bangladesh, what business do they have here,” said Katiyar.
Yesterday, the AIMIM’s Owaisi, who was speaking in the Lok Sabha ,advocated a three-year jail term for anyone found guilty of calling anIndian Muslim a ‘Pakistani’.
“Even after 70 years I am called a Pakistani. Why? We rejected Jinnah’sinvitation. Now I can’t even hoist the tricolour at free will. Why can’tthere be a law just like those that apply to SC/STs?” asked Owaisi.
Owasi’s comments came days after Bareilly’s district magistrate questionedthe “trend” of “entering Muslim localities by force, raising anti-Pakistanslogans and then creating a ruckus”.
Bareilly district magistrate Vikram Singh was recently under severecriticism over a Facebook post in which he said: “A very strange trend hasstarted of late. Take out processions by force through Muslim dominatedlocalities and raise anti-Pakistan slogans. Why? Are these peoplePakistani? The same thing had happened in Khailam village of Bareilly. Thenstones were pelted, FIRs lodged,”.
Later he deleted the post after outburst of anger from ruling quarters.