Exclusive: Giriraj Singh on Cows, Caste and Politics in Bihar

BJP MP from Bihar and Union Minister Giriraj Singh speaks exclusively to The Quint on beef politics in Bihar.

BJP leader Giriraj Singh in an exclusive interview with The Quint’s Rishika Baruah.

Member of Parliament from Bihar and Union Minister of State for Small and Medium Enterprises, Giriraj Singh is no stranger to controversy. From telling those opposed to Narendra Modi to shift to Pakistan to alleging that all terrorists belong to one community to commenting on the colour of Sonia Gandhi’s skin, Singh fits right in the BJP’s long list loose tongues.

In an exclusive interview to The Quint, Singh talks about beef, caste, BJP and Bihar.

<p>Bihar wants change. The government before 2005 was Jungle Raj. People were insecure and there was rampant crime, loot, rape, murders. After that the people of Bihar gave their mandate to Nitish Kumar. It was a vote against the Jungle Raj and now Nitish has gone and fallen at Lalu’s feet.</p>

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While the BJP is relying heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah’s popularity, the party is also hoping that the grand alliance with Lalu Prasad Yadav will dent Nitish Kumar’s popularity in the state. Singh added that the alliance has no agenda other than caste and cow meat.

<p>Lalu raked up the Dadri issue, he said even Hindus eat cow meat, he abused Hindus. Is this his development agenda? Then he went on to say that there is no difference between cow meat and goat meat. Then he said that Hindu rishis used to eat cow meat. Why is Nitish silent? I appeal to Nitish to break his silence and clear the air on whether the people of Bihar will have to eat cow meat if he comes into power.</p>

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Clearly, the dust from Dadri has triggered off storm in Bihar. The Dadri lynching is at the heart of political discourse this election season and all political stakeholders are guilty of playing cow politics. When Singh was questioned on being guilty of the very same politics he, in turn, accused his rivals of playing it safe by asking why Nitish Kumar is silent on Lalu’s beef remarks. He further added,

<p>Nitish has cheated the people of Bihar and if the poison called Lalu comes back, Nitish must answer. Nitish has joined hands with Lalu only to fight on the basis of caste, but our agenda is development. We have given a special package to Bihar. What is their model for development?</p>

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While the Modi-Amit Shah combine continue to be the face of the campaign in Bihar, local faces of the party like Singh, Sushil Modi or even Rajiv Pratap Rudy are nowhere to be seen in BJP’s campaign. Singh chose to play it safe when asked about why the party doesn’t have a chief ministerial candidate.

<p>We fought Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand under the leadership of the Prime Minister. Bihar needs the BJP now.</p>

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When asked who the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate could be if the party wins in Bihar, pat comes the reply

<p>He will be chosen by Narendra Modi.</p>

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Only time will tell if the formula the BJP adopted in Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand will work in Bihar. As Singh wrapped up the interview on board a BJP campaign jeep, he left us with this parting thought,

<p>For the last 25 years, Lalu, Rabri and Nitish have all ruled Bihar, I called them the bhiaya-bhabhi-devar government. Before that for over 35 years there was a Congress government. I appeal to the people of Bihar to give Modi a chance.</p>

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