In countrywide protests on Saturday, BJP workers took to the streets to denounce Pakistan foreign minister’s comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, burnt Bilawal Bhutto’s effigies and raised anti-Pakistan slogans.
The all-India protest took place a day after the BJP had staged a massive protest near the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi against Bhutto’s “highly derogatory” remark against Prime Minister Modi.
The trigger for protests came against the backdrop of Bhutto’s acidic comments in response to India’s sharp condemnation of Pakistan’s all-out and continuous support to terrorism.
At the recent United Nations Security Council meet, the Pakistan Foreign Minister responded to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s “hosting Osama Bin Laden” comment and said, “I want to tell India that Osama bin Laden is dead, but the butcher of Gujarat lives and he is the Prime Minister of India.”
In various States, BJP State unit presidents led the march of party workers. In Uttar Pradesh, the agitation against Bhutto’s remark started as BJP State president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary issued a statement calling Bhutto’s remarks against Modi “indecent” and “shameful”. Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal led the protests in the State.
In Lucknow, BJP workers gathered at Atal Chowk and started marching shouting slogans against Bilawal Bhutto. Party workers also burnt Bhutto’s effigies them at the protest site.
In Maharashtra, BJP leaders, led by Maharashtra chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, held a protest at Pune’s Tilak Chowk. The party leaders burnt Pakistan’s flags and also raised anti-Pakistan slogans.
Bawankule said, “We will not tolerate any statement against our prime minister. PM Narendra Modi is the one who is striving hard to save our Hindu religion, and Pakistan is unable to see it. That is why they are making such statements.”
In Mumbai too, party workers took to the streets to protest against the Pakistan foreign minister.
The BJP youth wing held a protest in Karnataka and demanded an apology from Bhutto to PM Modi. They also raised slogans against state Congress leaders DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah calling them ‘DK Yesukumar’ and ‘Siddaramullah Khan’.
The youth wing also submitted a memorandum to the Governor after the protest demanding immediate action against the Pakistan minister for his remark.
In Telangana, BJP MP and party state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar led the protest, held near Babu Jagjeevan Ram Statue, in Basheer Bagh.
In Jammu also slogan shouting members of BJP Yuva Morcha carrying placards protested against Bhutto’s comments and burnt his effigy.
A protest was held in Odisha’s Capital Bhubhaneswar too, against Bhutto’s remark.
The BJP had earlier dubbed Bhutto’s comments against Modi as “highly shameful and derogatory.”
“The kind of language Bhutto has used is extremely reprehensible which does not reflect the true spirit of statesmanship and also crosses the limit of decency in public life. Does he even have the stature to comment about our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji who is a true statesman and a highly respected global leader,” the BJP said while announcing the protests.