Patna: Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has told The Wire's Arfa Khanum Sherwani that he disagrees with the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken of Muslims in his recent poll speeches, and there is "no need" for these comments. Paswan, whose party has joined the National Democratic Alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, is the sitting MP from Jamui in Bihar.

When asked about Modi's repeated references to Muslims as "infiltrators", "Pakistani" and "those who have more children", Paswan said, "I believe that there is no need for comments like this." On matters like creating a "Hindu rashtra", he added that he had expressed his disagreement within the National Democratic Alliance. "Changing the Constitution is no joke," he said.

"My party has its own policies," Paswan told The Wire, "and I have repeatedly said that my alliance is issue-based. My alliance with the BJP is issue-based, I believe this very clearly."

In the interview conducted in Patna, Paswan also talks about his break with his family and party after his father's death, the political atmosphere during the current elections and more.

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