In keeping with the anti-Muslim rhetoric of a section of leaders within the BJP, a member of the party’s Strategic Action Committee, and 2G-scam whistleblower, Aseervatham Achary declared on prime-time television during a debate on Bihar elections that Indian Muslims have more affinity towards Pakistan than India.
The former government employee who joined BJP in 2014 said emphatically as he slammed the table, “I will tell you this, Indian Muslims have their bodies in Tamil Nadu, but their hearts are in Pakistan.”
Just before that, he had also said that when a cricket match happens between India and Pakistan, people in Chandini Chowk in Delhi burst crackers for Pakistan.
Ironically, he made the statement while defending the BJP’s development agenda during the campaign ahead of Bihar elections. The statement was made while the panel was discussing why the BJP was succumbing to a Hindutva agenda while stating they were all about development.
When the show’s anchor, Karthigaichelvan, got riled up and told him that it was defamatory to make such a blanket statement against all Muslims in the country on the basis of no proof, Achary challenged him, “You come and see what happens,” and continued to repeat his views on Muslims as a community. He said that this has been the situation in the country for the past 1500 years.
Following his comments, political commentator Gnani said on the show to Achary , “That people like you dare to sit in a public forum and make such political statements after 2014, that’s what we say is abnormal situation in the country today.”
You can watch his statements here (Watch from 39:30).