After Sanders tweets on Delhi, BJP leader warns of 'playing role' in US polls

A senior BJP leader is in the spotlight for responding to criticism of the violence in Delhi by US Senator Bernie Sanders.

B.L. Santhosh, a national general secretary in the BJP, tweeted on Wednesday that the statement by Sanders was "compelling" the BJP to "play a role" in the presidential elections. Sanders is one of the frontrunners to get the Democratic Party's nomination to be its candidate in the presidential elections in November against incumbent President Donald Trump.

Screenshot of the deleted tweet by B.L. Santhosh

In the tweet, which has been deleted, Santhosh wrote, "How much ever neutral we wish to be, you [Sanders] compel us to play a role in Presidential elections. Sorry to say so... But you are compelling us."

Sanders had tweeted that Trump's response to the violence in Delhi was a "failure of leadership". "Over 200 million Muslims call India home. Widespread anti-Muslim mob violence has killed at least 27 and injured many more. Trump responds by saying, 'That's up to India.' This is a failure of leadership on human rights.” Sanders tweeted.

Santhosh has been strident in his defence of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. On Tuesday, Santhosh was criticised for a provocative tweet on the Delhi violence, which, unsurprisingly, was also deleted. Santhosh had tweeted, “Jaffrabad Metro protest area totally cleared. The game starts now. The rioters need to be taught a lesson or two of Indian laws." Following criticism of the tweet, Santhosh modified the tweet, removing the "The game starts now" part.

Sanders has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi previously. In September last year, ahead of Modi's participation in the 'Howdy, Modi' event with Trump in Houston, Sanders had written in the Houston Chronicle that there will be "deafening silence on the human rights crisis" in Kashmir at the event.

During Trump's recent visit to India, Sanders had also criticised the US president for announcing an arms deal worth $3 billion for helicopters and instead argued the US should work together with India on climate change.

Ironically, at the 'Howdy, Modi' event, Modi had declared Abki Baar, Trump sarkar (This time a Trump government), raising speculation he was endorsing Trump for another term in office.

In November last year, the Overseas Friends of the BJP, an NRI affiliate of the BJP, was accused of campaigning for the Conservative Party in 48 seats in the UK general election. The action came amid criticism of the Labour Party as being inimical to India's interests, in particular on Kashmir.

The Hindu reported in December that the UK government had met the BJP's Foreign Cell to express its concerns about the Pakistan stance of the Overseas Friends of the BJP in the election.