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BJP raps Giriraj for Pak remark
Says statement irresponsible, Cong, JD(U) complain to EC

Those trying their best to stop Modi from coming to power have no place in India and should go to Pakistan whose interests these Modi-baiters have sought to espouse by opposing him in the polls.
Giriraj Singh, bihar leader

BJP clarifies
The BJP and Narendra Modi welcome all opposing views. Modi believes in moving forward taking along all opposing views. His (Giriraj Singh) views do not represent the view of BJP.
Ravi Shankar Prasad, bjp leader

FIR against Giriraj
The Jharkand police has lodged an FIR against Giriraj Singh over his inflammatory remark. The case has been registered under various sections of the IPC and the Representation of People's Act, 1951

New Delhi/Patna, April 20
The BJP today pulled up its Bihar leader Giriraj Singh for his “back Narendra Modi or go to Pakistan” remark, but he stood by his controversial comment that has been slammed by rival parties.

The Congress and the JD(U) complained to the Election Commission and demanded criminal action against him. Distancing itself from Singh’s controversial remark, the BJP sought to undo the damage with president Rajnath Singh saying the party believes in the politics of “justice and humanity” and taking everybody along.

Party sources said Giriraj, a Lok Sabha candidate from Nawada, has been conveyed the party’s displeasure over his statement and asked to refrain from stoking any further row. Giriraj Singh had said in an election meeting in Jharkhand yesterday that those opposing Modi will have to go to Pakistan after elections, leaving BJP red-faced and inviting sharp criticism from rival parties who said his comments were directed at Muslims.

In an apparent disapproval of the former Bihar minister’s comments, Rajnath said, “The BJP believes in the politics of justice and humanity and taking everybody along”. Senior Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi termed the statement “irresponsible” and said the party did not approve of it. “The BJP doesn’t approve of irresponsible statement given by Giriraj Singh,” he tweeted. “I stand by my statement,” Giriraj said in Patna. — PTI