India's ruling party leader threatens to chop off hands of Modi's critics

Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-21 15:36:57|Editor: Lifang
Video PlayerClose

NEW DELHI, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A senior leader of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar has stirred a major controversy by threatening to chop off "any finger or hand" raised against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Each citizen of the country should be proud that the son of a poor family rose from humble beginnings to become India's prime minister. Any finger or hand raised towards him, we should together, either break it or if needed, chop it off," Nityanand Rai, Bihar BJP leader, said.

Rai, a parliamentarian from the eastern Indian state of Bihar, was addressing a political function in the state Monday when he made the comments.

However, a senior opposition leader said Tuesday that it was not expected from a leader like Rai as "he's a member of Parliament."

"It shows the extremist mindset of the BJP leader and the party should immediately take action against him," the opposition leader said.

However, Rai has justified his comments, saying "Only those who are anti-national and anti-poor will object to the statement. What I said is a proverb".

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011100001367687801