MEERUT: A day after controversial BJP leader Sadhvi Prachi said that “Haj pilgrims will have to face the consequences if there is any attack on pilgrims going to Amarnath,” the BJP quickly distanced itself from her, with UP state president Laxmikant Bajpai saying, “She is not a BJP member and even if she has taken membership through the phone contact programme, the high command will take a decision on the matter.”

Bajpai said, “The party is currently scrutinizing if she had joined us through mobile phone membership drive. The report will be sent to the party high command, which will take a decision on the matter.”

A senior BJP leader not willing to be named told TOI on Thursday, “At a time when BJP is trying to promote ‘Sabka saath sabka vikas’, such anti-Muslim statements by her is doing the party more damage than good.” At present, the state BJP unit is launching massive public agitations in all of UP, including in Meerut and Baghpat, in its bid to corner the ruling Samajwadi Party government on various issues, such as power tariff hike, law and order, farmers’ issue, etc.

Speaking at a public event in Muzaffarnagar on Wednesday, Sadhvi Prachi had reportedly said that it was shameful that Haj pilgrims get subsidies while Hindu pilgrims are taxed. Maintaining that a threat to Amarnath pilgrims will result in a backlash, the leader is learnt to have said, “Eent ka jawab patthar se diya jayega (a befitting reply will be given).”

Only last week, the VHP leader had kicked up a storm with her remarks that those who are opposed to yoga should go to Pakistan and that they have “no right” to stay in the country. The comments came as VHP’s response to All India Muslim Personal Law Board’s (AIMPLB) opposition to yoga

