Sakshi Maharaj's remark his ‘personal view’, BJP says

NEW DELHI: Hit by a second round of controversy by party MP from Uttar Pradesh SakshiMaharaj, who recommended at least four children for Hindu families, BJP on Wednesday dissociated itself from the remark calling it his 'personal view' and that the party had nothing to do with it.

The party also appealed to all its members to focus on the Modi government's agenda of good governance and development and keep themselves away from 'unnecessary' remarks.

It was during the winter session last month that Parliament saw disruptions that derailed several bills as Opposition took on the government over controversial statements from Sakshi Maharaj about Nathuram Godse being a nationalist and another UP MP and Union minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti's 'Ramzada vs Haramzada' remark at rally in the capital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had disapproved of the comments in parliamentary party meetings during the session and even had to apologise to the House on one occasion for the controversial comments from his party colleagues.

In a statement on Wednesday, BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said, "BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj's comments are his personal views and not that of the party."

Realising that the controversies thrown up by the party's elected members could hurt the government's development agenda, the party reiterated that "BJP believes in the politics of good governance and development".

"It is an appeal to all party workers to focus on publicising the government's programmes being implemented in public interest and try to keep from making unnecessary statements," Sharma said.

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