In a video that has gone viral on social media, Samajwadi Party MLA Nahid Hasan can be heard asking his supporters in communally sensitive Kairana to economically boycott BJP supporters.
In the video, Hasan can be heard urging his supporters to not buy anything from the shops of people who support the BJP. “I urge everyone in Kairana and in nearby villages who buy things from Kairana, I request you with folded hands stop buying anything from the BJP supporters. For ten days, one month. Go elsewhere, to other villages but for solidarity with your brothers, face some hardships. But boycott these BJP people in the market. Only then things will improve. Their homes run because we buy things from them. And because of that, we are suffering,” he said.
Kairana in Uttar Pradesh is a communally sensitive area which witnessed an exodus of Hindus during the Samajwadi Party government led by Akhilesh Yadav. Kairana town is pegged to have about 85% Muslims, and the rest being mostly Hindus. In 2001 the figure was 52% Hindus and the rest were Muslims.
