Watch: Asked about hate speech in Dharma Sansad, UP Deputy Chief Minister ends BBC interview

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. Image/Official Facebook account

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya ended an interview with BBC Hindi and asked the crew to delete the footage after he was asked about the hate speeches in Haridwar's Dharma Sansad.

According to BBC Hindi's report, Maurya, later, termed the incident as "unfortunate".

Journalist Anant Jhanane asked the BJP leader, "When the chief minister of the state does not speak up after violence inciting speeches are delivered from the stage of a Dharma Sansad then such people get encouraged to repeat the act. Shouldn't you make a statement to assure people that you are not against any particular religion?"

Keshav Prasad Maurya in response to this said, "BJP does not need prove to anything. We believe in Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas. Dharmacharyas have the right to express their views from their own platform. Why do you only talk about Hindu religious leaders? What statements have been made about other religious leaders? Why don't you talk about them?"

After about 10 minutes of question and answer, Maurya asked Jhanane to only ask questions related to elections. To which Jhanane said that these issues are connected with the elections. This irked the minister and he told Jhanane that he was not talking like a journalist but some "agent."

After this, he removed his microphone and asked the cameraman to stop rolling. He also pulled the Covid-19 mask of the reporter. He then called his security guards and forcefully made the crew delete the footage.

However, BBC was able to retrieve the footage, stated the report. The publication has also written letters to the top leaders of the party criticising the episode but have not received a reply so far.

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