A reporter asked Anurag Thakur about the slogan that evoked sharp criticism. Thakur promptly reacted and said: “Aap log bilkul jhoot bol rahe hain.”
New Delhi| Union Minister Anurag Thakur, who has come under sharp criticism for raising controversial “shoot the traitors” chant during Delhi Assembly elections, on Sunday refuted that he ever raised such a slogan.
“Strict action should be taken against those involved in the (Delhi) riots. The strength of our country is that people of various faiths coexist and live unitedly contributing towards nation-building,” he said.
At an election rally in Rithala on February 8, Thakur was caught on camera saying “desh ke gaddaron ko (the nation’s traitors)”, to which the crowd responded by chanting: “…goli maaro s****n ko (shoot them)”.
During a press conference, a reporter asked Thakur about the chant that evoked sharp criticism. Thakur promptly reacted and said: “Aap log bilkul jhoot bol rahe hain… Apni jaankari mai sudhaar kijye..Aadhi jaankari kisi ke liye bhi gaatak hai (You are lying… Get the facts right…Half knowledge is dangerous),” Thakur said.
At the press conference, he was asked to comment on the alleged hate speeches made by him and other BJP leaders in the run-up to the Delhi elections and how such vitriolic speeches led to the riots in the city. “The police is doing its job,” he said.
When asked to clear the air on the subject, Thakur said he wouldn’t comment on the matter as it was sub-judice.
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Asked again about his alleged hate speech, Thakur said, “I think sometimes there is a lack of information in the media too regarding the way some things are projected.”
Evading further response on the issue, the Union minister chose to talk about the country’s economy.
“India should move forward. We have taken big steps on the economy and will do so in future too,” he said.
The Delhi High Court is hearing a plea seeking judicial inquiry and registration of FIRs against Thakur and his party colleagues, Parvesh Sahib Singh and Kapil Mishra, for allegedly making provocative statements on anti-CAA protesters. The plea claims that such comments sparked the recent violence in Northeast Delhi that has claimed over 40 lives.
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