BJP Issues Notice to MLA Over Remarks Against Muslim Vendors

The clip has now been widely shared on social media, triggering a controversy.

BJP MLA Suresh Tiwari is seen in the video asking people to not buy vegetables from Muslim vendors.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Hours after BJP MLA from Barhaj constituency in Deoria district, Suresh Tewari, was on Tuesday, 28 April seen in a video clip, telling people not to buy vegetables from Muslim vendors, the party has issued a show-cause notice against him, seeking reply within a week, PTI reported quoting sources.

"I am saying openly don't purchase vegetables from Muslims (Ek cheez dhyan mein rakhiye ga, main bol raha hoon openly, koi bhi miyan ke hathon sabzi nahi lega)," the MLA can be heard saying in the clip.

The clip was now been widely shared on social media, triggering a controversy.

Asked about his remark over the phone, Tewari said, "On 17 or 18 April, I was distributing masks and sanitizers among the people. When I reached the boundary of the nagar palika, around 17-18 people came to me and started complaining against Tablighi people making a chaos and spreading coronavirus and also contaminating vegetables with their saliva."

“I told them not to have fight with them or take the law into own hands, but simply to stop purchasing from them,” he said.

"There are many Muslim vendors in Barhaj too and I only advised people not to purchase from them to be saved from the deadly virus," the MLA added

What Did the Police Say?

Meanwhile, the Deoria police posted its response on the matter on social media. “Efforts were made to reach the honourable MLA regarding the video but he could not make himself available. However, after probing the matter, it was found that according to the news circulating on social media the MLA made the statement as an answer to a personal question by one party worker. At the local level, there is no notable reaction to the statement,” the Deoria police tweeted.

Nadda Asks for Punitive Action: BJP Sources

BJP chief JP Nadda has asked the party's UP unit to take action against MLA Suresh Tewari for his remarks, allegedly targeting Muslims, PTI reported quoting the party sources.

UP BJP spokesperson Chandra Mohan had said the party would look into the circumstances in which the MLA issued such the statement.

"At this moment, it is the responsibility of all to act responsibly and work in a manner which encourages unity," he said.

(With inputs from PTI)