A former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP stirred up a controversy during a charitable drive in Rajasthan by denying blankets to members of the Muslim community.

Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria, who was elected to the Lok Sabha in the 2014 and the 2019 parliamentary polls, justified his behaviour by saying that the blankets were not meant for people who “abuse” Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A video of the incident, which took place in Tonk district, has since gone viral on social media. Jaunapuria, who is well-known for his philanthropic activities, was undertaking a free blanket distribution drive at a village when he noticed a few Muslim individuals there.

Their presence caused a sudden change in the BJP leader’s demeanour. Besides refusing to give blankets to any Muslim person present there, the ex-Lok Sabha member also ordered that the ones already handed out to people from the minority community be taken back.

In a viral video, he is heard saying to a gathering of the needy: “Jo Modi ko gaali dene wala hain, usko lene kaa haq hi nahi hain. (Those who abuse Modi, are undeserving of this).” He also showed a dismissive attitude by saying that it wouldn’t bother him if someone is hurt by his decision.

Jaunapuria also expressed displeasure toward his supporters for gathering people from the Muslim community. When a villager objected to the BJP leader’s behaviour, the latter asserted that the drive was not part of a government initiative and was sponsored by him in his personal capacity, adding that he had the discretion to choose who could be its beneficiary.

Jaunapuria represented the Tonk-Sawa Madhopur constituency in the Lok Sabha for two consecutive terms. As part of his philanthropic services, the BJP leader has been running a free canteen for the needy for the past nine years – an initiative that was once praised by PM Modi himself on an episode of his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme.

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(With inputs from Manoj Tiwari)