Lucknow, Jan 30: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Thana Bhawan, Suresh Rana made a provocative speech in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh. Speaking at a public meeting, BJP leader Suresh Rana said that his victory would lead to curfews in Muslim-dominated areas like Kairana, Deoband and Moradabad. Suresh Rana, who is also the UP BJP vice-president, is an accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots cases of 2013. Also Read - War on 'Love Jihad'? Yogi Govt Likely to Bring Ordinance To Restrict Religious Conversion in UP

“Main haar gaya to Deoband me jashn manaya jayega ki Suresh Rana ka ilaj kar diya. Aur yadi mai yahan maar diya to Deoband me, Moradabad me curfew lag jayega mitron. (If I do not win then my defeat would be celebrated in Deoband. But if I win then friends then curfew will be imposed in Kairana, Deoband and Moradabad,” said Suresh Rana. Kairana, Deoband and Moradabad are Muslim-dominated areas. Also Read - 'Disservice To Nation': SC Stays Broadcast of TV Show 'UPSC Jihad', Says Intent is to Vilify Muslim Community

“Isliye keh raha ki March 11 ka din hoga… Bharat Mata ki Jai ka naara lagate hue Shamli se Thana Bhawan tak juloos niklega (March 11 will be the date and a procession will move from Shamli to Thana Bhawan with slogans of Bharat Mata ki Jai),” Suresh Rana is seen saying in the viral video. Interestingly, the BJP MP from Muzaffarnagar, Sanjeev Baliyan, was sharing the dias when the BJP MLA made provocative remarks. Baliyan is also an accused in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots. Also Read - 'Is Being a Muslim Crime in India': Twitter Stands in Support of Umar Khalid, Question Why 'Goli Maaro Gang' is Roaming Free?

#WATCH: BJP MLA Suresh Rana says that if he wins, curfew will be imposed in Kairana, Deoband and Moradabad. pic.twitter.com/YYlsv0fxTm — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 30, 2017

Samajwadi Party candidate from Thana Bhawan, Dr Sudhir Panwar and BSP’s Abdul Rao Waris strongly opposed the provocative speech, while Suresh Rama rejected the charges. “I have not made any remark against any religion. I have only said that if I win and the BJP comes to power in the state, then those hooligans who had forced other people to migrate from Kairana, Deoband and Moradabad and other areas, those hooligans will have to migrate from these areas,” Rana was quoted as saying.

Polling in Thana Bhawan is scheduled for February 11 — the first phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections 2017. The results will be announced on March 11.