BJP MLA from Barhaj constituency in Deoria district, SureshTewari, was on Tuesday seen in a video clip, telling people not to buyvegetables from Muslim vendors.
The clip has now been widely shared on social media,triggering a controversy.
“I am saying openly don’t purchase vegetables fromMuslims (Ek cheez dhayan mein rakhiyega, main bol raha hoon openly, koi bhimiyan ke hathon sabzi nahi lega),” the MLA can be heard saying in theclip.
Asked about his remark over the phone, Tewari said, “OnApril 17 or 18, I was distributing masks and sanitizers among the people. WhenI reached the boundary of the nagar palika, around 17-18 people came to me andstarted complaining against Tablighi people making a chaos and spreadingcoronavirus and also contaminating vegetables with their saliva.”
“I told them not to have fight with them or take thelaw into own hands, but simply to stop purchasing from them,” he said.
“There are many Muslim vendors in Barhaj too and I onlyadvised people not to purchase from them to be saved from the deadlyvirus,” the MLA added
Meanwhile, UP BJP spokesperson Chandra Mohan said the partywould look into the circumstances in which the MLA issued such the statement.
“At this moment, it is the responsibility of all to actresponsibly and work in a manner which encourages unity,” he said.