Janta Dal United today criticised BJP chief Amit Shah' remarks that if BJP loses in Bihar, Diwali will be celebrated in Pakistan, and said that this was an attempt to "communalise" elections as the saffron party is "sensing" defeat.
The party also decided to approach Election Commission on the matter and other related issues tomorrow when other leaders of the Grand Alliance will join their move.
"With these remarks Shah has accepted that BJP has lost the assembly polls in the state. They were bound to lose in Bihar, which has a strong socialist base. Sensing defeat, he is now trying to polarise Hindus in the name of Pakistan. It is a highly irresponsible remark.
"Will you fight elections in a state invoking your relations with some other country? This shows the BJP can go to any extent to win elections," party President Sharad Yadav told PTI over phone.
Scaling up the issue, party general secretary KC Tyagi and AICC chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala will meet Chief Election Commissioner Naseem Zaidi over the issue tomorrow.
"After provocative speeches by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and provocative newspaper advertisements and photos by BJP chief Amit Shah, this is the latest attempt from their side to communalise the Bihar polls in remaining last two phases," Tyagi said.
Wondering whether the BJP thinks that Bihar is part of Pakistan, Tyagi also sought to portray Shah's remarks as an "insult" to the hardworking Biharis.
Addressing an election rally in Raxaul earlier in the day, BJP President Amit Shah had said if BJP loses in Bihar, Diwali will be celebrated in Pakistan, a statement his rivals called was an attempt to communalise the elections.
"If BJP loses Bihar elections even by chance, though victory or defeat will happen in Patna, firecrackers would be burst in Pakistan," he had said.
His remarks come against the backdrop of reports that it could be tough going for the saffron alliance in the state contrary to earlier reports that the BJP-led grouping was comfortably placed.
