Complaint filed against BJP MLA who wants to fight ‘love jihad, conversions’

A written complaint was lodged with police on Wednesday against Rudrapur BJP MLA Raj Kumar Thukral, who allegedly announced a fight against “love jihad, conversions and suppression of Hindus”.

Local resident Munish Kumar filed the complaint against the BJP MLA for allegedly making provocative statements against a particular community, said Vikram Rathore, in-charge of Ramnagar police station.

“We will investigate the matter following which appropriate action will be taken,” the police officer said.

Thukral had announced a fight against “love jihad, conversions and suppression of Hindus” days after a police officer saved a Muslim youth from being attacked by a mob after he was found with a Hindu girl.

The Muslim youth met the girl near Garjiya Devi temple at Ramnagar in Nainital district on May 22. Locals caught them and alleged that they were found in a compromising position. The locals later called members of Hindu right-wing organisations who started thrashing the youth. Sub-inspector Gagandeep Singh came to his rescue.

Reacting to the incident, Thukral asked: “When Hindus don’t go into a mosque, when they don’t have a right to enter a madrasa, why did they go to Garjiya temple with an intent to disturb Hindu ethos?”

Munish Kumar, who is co-convener of the Samajwadi Lokmanch, said he filed the complaint as inflammatory statements by an MLA can disturb communal harmony and spark tension in the area.

“According to the constitution, ours is a secular country. Being an MLA, he should protect the constitution. But by making such inflammatory statements, he is doing the reverse,” he said.

This is not the first time Thukral has courted controversy. In March, a video allegedly showed him beating up Dalit women. Earlier this month, he was accused of threatening and abusing a toll plaza staffer near Kichha in US Nagar district.