India has become undeclared 'Hindu Rashtra', says Azam Khan

Rampur (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 3 (ANI): Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan on Friday claimed that India has become an undeclared 'Hindu Rastra' as the language used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders caters just to one religion.
Speaking at a press conference here, Khan said, "There is only one issue in this polls and that is of nationalism. The language spoken by Prime Minister and other BJP leaders caters to one particular religion. This is why India has become an undeclared Hindu Rashtra."
"Important issues such as inflation, unemployment, GST, demonetization, farmers suicide, and the increasing number of soldier's deaths during BJP tenure are not debated during the Lok Sabha elections," he added.
The SP leader questioned the Election Commission's clean chit to Congress president Rahul Gandhi over his murder accused remark against BJP national president Amit Shah.
Khan said, "If there is such an accusation against Shah then it is very unfortunate."
The SP leader said, "There were attempts to kill me during the polls and the conspiracy was made by top police officials in the state."
On being asked about the ban imposed on him earlier by ECI, he said, "In last general elections, there was a ban on me during the whole period of polls as ECI knew that BJP will win...But this time the ban was imposed in bits because the ECI knows that BJP might not win."
He further alleged that the manner in which polling was conducted in Rampur was not reflective of democracy. "People of one community were targetted and not allowed to vote. I never went out of my home during polling day because there was a conspiracy to kill me and do violence in Rampur," he added.
The SP leader alleged, "Police beat people of one particular community on polling day in Rampur. I lost 2 lakhs votes as people were prevented from casting vote."
"Police vehicles must be checked as hacking machines are kept inside them. Money was distributed with the help of a police vehicle. I want a probe regarding this. I have complained regarding this to the ECI," he added. (ANI)