Giriraj Singh Sparks Row Over ‘Namak Haram’ Remark At Bihar Rally; AIMIM Unveils First List Of Candidates

Union Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Giriraj Singh has courted controversy following remarks made during a rally in Arwal, Bihar, on 18 October, where he declared that he did not seek the votes of “namak haram” (betrayers).

The comments, captured on video, went viral across social media platforms the following day, drawing sharp reactions from Opposition leaders.

According to The Hindu, in his speech, Singh criticised Muslims for not voting for the BJP despite, he claimed, benefitting from several government schemes.

He recounted a conversation with a cleric, saying, “I asked the cleric if he received the Ayushman card or not, he said yes. Then I asked if there was any discrimination between Hindus and Muslims. He said, ‘No.’

Then I asked, ‘Did you vote for me?’ He said, ‘Yes,’ but when I asked him to swear in the name of Allah, he said he did not give vote.” He added, “I clearly told the cleric that we do not want the votes of ‘betrayers’.”

The remarks were condemned by Opposition parties, who accused Singh of fanning communal tensions ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls.

RJD leader Mirtunjay Tiwari said, “Whenever elections take place in any State, BJP leaders always play the Hindu-Muslim card... BJP has been ruling the Centre for 11 years; have they sent anyone to Pakistan?”

Amid the controversy, AIMIM announced its first list of 25 candidates for the upcoming Bihar elections, including two non-Muslims.

Most candidates are from the Seemanchal region, with party chief Akhtarul Iman renominated from Amour. The party said on X, “Inshallah, we will be a voice of justice for Bihar’s weakest and most neglected.”

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