If BJP loses, crackers will be burst in Pakistan and Mohd Shahabuddin will be happy: Amit Shah

As NDA braces up for the most challenging fifth phase of Bihar elections, BJP president Amit Shah has said that if his party loses, crackers will be burst in Pakistan.

"If by any chance, the BJP loses in Bihar, though winning and losing happens, crackers will be burst in celebration in Pakistan. Do you want that to happen?," he asks addressing a rally in Raxaul on Wednesday.

He also said that in Siwan he had said that Mohd Shahabuddin, who is in jail, would be happy if Nitish Kumar-Lalu Prasad Yadav alliance wins. "Who would be happy?... Not Nitish.... Not Lalu. It would be Shahabuddin who would be most happy," he said.

Shah added that it was time for Bihar to get rid of 'jungle raj'. He appealed to the people to ensure victory of BJP "so that disappointment descends in Pakistan".

On a whirlwind campaign in Bihar for next two phases of polling, Shah's statement assumes significance as these phases would cover a number of constituencies where Muslims are in sizeable number in the 57 seats in the last phase that includes Kisanganj, Araria, Purnea, Katihar and Darbhanga.

The BJP, which had won 31 of the 40 seats in Bihar during the Lok Sabha elections, does not hold any of the seven seats in the Kosi and Seemanchal belts which go to polls in the fifth phase on November 5. The region has a considerable Muslim population in several seats.

Shah's comments came in for condemnation from the JD-U, which dubbed it as an attempt to communalise the atmosphere. Ruling Janata Dal-United spokesperson KC Tyagi said the party would complain to the Election Commission on Friday.