'Exercise Caution': Miffed JP Nadda Tells Giriraj Singh Over Controversial Remark On Deoband

Upset for recent controversial remarks against Deoband Islamic seminary, BJP chief JP Nadda summoned Union Minister Giriraj Singh for a meeting New Delhi on Saturday. Though Singh’s office denied receiving any such notice, the meeting between two leaders did take place in Delhi. Sources in the BJP said that Nadda met Singh at the party headquarters. In the meeting that ran for little above 20 minutes, Nadda reportedly told Singh to exercise caution. The meeting comes in wake of the row sparked by Singh over his Deoband remark. Two days ago, Singh had described Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur as the “Gangotri of terrorism”, and blamed the region for nurturing terrorists.

“I have said it earlier that Deoband is the Gangotri of terrorists,” he told the media in Saharanpur. “All most wanted terrorists of the world came from Deoband, including (Lashkar-e-Taiba founder) Hafiz Saeed or any of the others. These people are not against CAA, they are against India. This is a kind of a Khilafat movement.” Singh joins long list of BJP leaders who have been admonished by the party leadership for their controversial statements.

Reacting to the Union minister's statement, Congress leader and ex-MLA Imran Masood said Giriraj Singh has been "blinded by hate" to such an extent that he even "insulted" a sacred word like "Gangotri". Saharanpur MP Haji Fazlur Rehman too flayed the minister for his statement and said Deoband has been the "karmabhoomi" of freedom fighters. He said ulemas of Deoband sacrificed their lives and went to jails for the cause of freedom. Taking a dig at the Union minister, the MP said those whose leaders helped the British during the freedom struggle and tried to divide Hindus and Muslims were accusing Deoband of terrorism.  

(With agency inputs)