A controversy has erupted in Uttar Pradesh after former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Raghavendra Pratap Singh made inflammatory remarks urging Hindu men to “bring ten Muslim girls and make them Hindu,” promising to cover their marriage expenses and provide jobs in return.

The comments, captured in a video widely circulated on social media, have drawn sharp criticism from Opposition parties and women’s rights groups, PTI reported.

Singh, who earlier represented the Domariyaganj Assembly constituency in Siddharthnagar district, made the remarks on October 16 while addressing a gathering in Dhankharpur village.

In the video, Singh is seen telling the crowd to “bring at least ten Muslim girls” and asking those willing to do so to raise their hands, The Indian Express reported.

“If a Hindu girl goes with a Muslim boy, is it not an insult to the whole Hindu community?” PTI quoted him as saying.

“If two have gone, then …bringing two is not enough. Bring at least ten Muslim girls and make them Hindu, and we will bear all expenses of marriage, give security and provide a job for a comfortable livelihood.”

He went on to claim that Hindus had lived in fear under previous governments but that under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s rule, there was no longer any reason to be afraid.

The remarks have triggered widespread condemnation, with Opposition parties calling them “communal” and “anti-women.” Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati termed the statement “highly condemnable” and demanded strict legal action.

“The narrow minded statement ‘bring a Muslim girl, get a job’ along with the poisonous and violent game going on by mischievous elements in UP…in the name of religious conversion…is highly condemnable,” she said in a social media post.

“Such criminal and anti-social elements pose an open challenge and threat to a civilised and constitutional government.”

Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav said the comments reflected the “anti-women psychology” of BJP leaders.

The Congress also hit out at the BJP, saying that “spreading hatred in the name of religion, dividing society and misleading unemployed youth has become the real politics of the BJP.”

The party added, “When it becomes difficult to answer questions on issues of employment, education and inflation, BJP leaders resort to injecting religious venom to polish their politics of power.”

In response to the criticism, Singh defended his comments, claiming they were taken out of context.

“It is a village with over 65 per cent Muslim population, and there have been instances of Hindu girls being lured by Muslim boys,” Singh told The Indian Express.

“Recently, there was also an incident of a Dalit being beaten up by Muslims. Therefore, I decided to hold a public meeting in that village.”

He alleged that there was “fear” among villagers and that many were hesitant to attend his meeting.

“So, I had to send the message that anyone harming Hindus and their daughters would see the same fate,” he added.

The BJP, however, has distanced itself from the controversy.

“There was no such official event of the party in the district, so I am not aware of any such event or any such statement,” said Kanhaiya Paswan, the BJP’s Siddharthnagar district unit chief, in a statement to The Indian Express.