Congress asks ECI to take action against BJP MP Arvind's remarks on Muslims

Addressing a press conference along with TPCC SC cell chairman Nagarigari Preetam and OBC cell chairman Nuthi Srikanth in Huzurabad town on Saturday, Abdullah Sohail strongly condemned the BJP MP for his alleged remarks that the Muslim community would be kept "beneath the chappals" of Hindus if BJP wins the Huzurabad by-elections.

"BJP leaders are facing public ire on main issues like inflation. They are being questioned on ever-rising prices of petrol, diesel, and other essential commodities. BJP leaders are unable to face the jobless youth who are questioning them on the status of two crore jobs every year promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In many localities, people have banned the entry of BJP leaders until they deposit the promised Rs. 15 lakh each in their accounts. Since they are left with no other issues, BJP MP Arvind is trying to polarise the by-elections by making derogatory statements against the Muslim community," he said.

Abdullah Sohail said the BJP leaders initially considered Huzurabad by-elections a cakewalk due to the candidature of former minister Eatala Rajender. But the people in Huzurabad have decided to reject not only TRS but also the BJP whose government at the Centre failed to perform on multiple counts. Instead of connecting with the people on real issues, BJP leaders are now raising the Hindu-Muslim rhetoric in a constituency where the minority communities constitute a marginal percentage of votes, he said. The Congress candidate Balamoori Venkat has been receiving tremendous support from the people and he would win the election with a comfortable majority, the Congress leader added.

Alleging that the BJP leader Arvind won from the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency by cheating the farmers, Mr. Sohail said he had signed the bonds promising that he would quit from his post if he failed to convince the Centre to constitute a turmeric board. "Arvind is literally hiding from the farmers and afraid of visiting his own constituency. He is giving hate speeches and statements to divert people's attention from his own failures," he alleged.

He added, "No party or leader can keep the Muslims or any other community 'beneath their chappals'. But the people of Huzurabad will keep Arvind 'beneath their chappals' in the by-election." Requesting the Election Commission to take action against the BJP MP, he asked, "Why are the ECI observers not taking note of such provocative remarks? Why are the ECI authorities waiting for a formal complaint from other parties? Lack of action by the authorities encourages communal leaders like Arvind to keep making derogatory statements."