Lucknow, March 12 -- As Holi draws near, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Uttar Pradesh, including a minister, have sparked controversy with inflammatory remarks targeting Muslims. UP Minister and State Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board chairman Raghuraj Singh advised Muslims to wear a "hijab made of tarpaulin" to protect themselves from Holi colors, while BJP lawmaker Ketki Singh suggested constructing a separate ward for Muslims in the proposed Ballia Medical College to "ensure the safety of Hindus."
Amid tensions over Holi coinciding with Friday prayers this year, Raghuraj Singh made a provocative statement, suggesting that just as mosques are covered with tarpaulin to prevent them from being stained by Holi c...