COVID-19 – BJP MLA Asks To Not Purchase Vegetables From Muslim Vendors

A video of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA went viral all over the social media platforms.

In the video, Suresh Tiwari, a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh was asking the citizens to not buy vegetables from Muslim vendors.

Mr. Tiwari addressed the residents of Deoria and said, “Keep one thing in mind, I am telling everyone openly, no one should purchase vegetables from miyas [Muslims.]”   The advise to not take vegetables from Muslim vendors was in the wake of the pandemic illness of the Novel Coronavirus.   

When asked about the reason behind such comment, Mr. Tiwari said, “After hearing the complaints that people of a community were selling vegetables after contaminating them with saliva in an attempt to spread coronavirus, I advised them if they have any doubt don’t purchase from them till they are not well.” 

Highlighting the recent Tablighi Jamaat incident, Mr. Suresh said everyone knows what Tablighi Jamaat returnees and groups did, which infected a large number of people.  Delhi’s Tablighi Jamaat congregation became the epicentre of the spread of the Coronavirus or COVID-19.   

Suresh Tiwari said, “Everyone can see what Jamaat members have done in the country.”  Many BJP leaders even described Tablighi Jamaat incidents as ‘Corona Terrorism.’  

Post the Tablighi Jamaat incident, many Muslims were blamed in several parts of India for spreading the virus.   In one such case, a man refused to take delivery from a Muslim delivery boy and Muslim vendors was banned to enter particular areas. 

In another such incident, a pregnant Muslim woman of Rajasthan was turned away from a public hospital due to her religious identity, which resulted in the death of her 7 month old fetus. 

In many cases, people even turned violent spreading communal hate.

However, Rakesh Tripathi, the Spokesperson of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh showed disappointment with the statement of Suresh Tiwari.  He said the BJP does not promote such remarks and would question Mr. Tiwari for his comments.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh reported 1,955 cases of the Novel Coronavirus and 31 deaths.