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BJP Chief Amit Shah Defends 'Firecrackers In Pakistan' Remark, Says It Isn't Communal

How Is My Firecrackers In Pakistan Remark Communal, Asks Amit Shah
PATNA, INDIA - OCTOBER 19: BJP President Amit Shah addressing a press conference on Bihar Assembly elections on October 19, 2015 in Patna, India. Bihar will hold five-phase elections between October 12 and November 5 to elect the 243-member assembly. Counting of votes will take place on November 8. (Photo by Arvind Yadav/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
PATNA, INDIA - OCTOBER 19: BJP President Amit Shah addressing a press conference on Bihar Assembly elections on October 19, 2015 in Patna, India. Bihar will hold five-phase elections between October 12 and November 5 to elect the 243-member assembly. Counting of votes will take place on November 8. (Photo by Arvind Yadav/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

BJP president Amit Shah defended his 'firecrackers in Pakistan' comment by saying it was not 'communal'. On 29 October, while addressing a rally in Bihar's East Champaran district, Shah had said that Pakistan with burst firecrackers in celebration if BJP loses in the Bihar polls. He later told Times Now that the statement was merely an analogy to point out that 'anti-national elements' that would rejoice at the party's defeat in Bihar.

Defending his remark which made the opposition see red, Shah told the news channel, "What I said means if PM Modi and BJP are weakened, it is natural for the anti-national forces to be happy. I am only saying this much. Where is communalism in this? I have not taken the name of any religion."

Meanwhile, acting on a complaint lodged against Shah's comments, the state election office has sought a report from the returning officer on the remark.

"We have sought report from district magistrates of East and West Champaran regarding the remark of BJP President Amit Shah," Additional Chief Electoral Officer R Lakshmanan told PTI.

Confident that BJP would win the Bihar elections with a 2/3rd majority, Shah said that he would not like to comment on it prematurely.

"You ask me the question on November eight. I will reply... But I know you will not ask because we would have won. We are going to get a two-third majority... I do not have any confusion," Shah told Times Now.

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