Muslims responsible for power thefts: BJP MLA

Lucknow: In a highly communal statement a Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA accused the state electricity department of being “soft” on Muslim community and alleged that the department is taking “selective action” in cases of power theft by people from the Muslim community. Sanjay Kumar, BJP MLA from the Chail assembly constituency in Kaushambi district said that he will raise the matter in the state assembly.

A video went viral on social media, in which the BJP MLA is purportedly heard telling a power official on phone, “Please provide me the data pertaining to the raids conducted by you in Muslim houses from April 1 till date, and also, tell me against how many people you have got FIR registered.”

The MLA asked the power department officials to check the power connection of all people, irrespective of their religion, and take action accordingly. During the conversation, he threatened to lodge FIR against the power official. He claimed that Muslims are responsible for 90 per cent of power theft. He alleged that power department officials have the habit of harassing Hindus only and have been soft on the Muslim community.