New Delhi [India], March 11 (ANI): Amid controversial statements over 'Holi' and 'Jumma' (Friday prayers) by BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Shatrughan Sinha Tuesday said that it was a ploy to divert attention from pressing issues such as poverty and the unfulfilled promises made by the Government.

'Our Constitution teaches us that India is a secular nation. Everyone is equal here. The minorities are also our own. Everyone belonging to this nation is our brother and sister... It is our responsibility to protect them... All these issues are being raised to divert from the main issues like poverty, and the governments are not able to fulfil their promises,' Sinha told ANI.

While Bihar BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur on Monday appealed to Muslims to 'stay indoors,' during the Holi festival, Uttar Pradesh Minister Raghuraj Singh sparked a row today with his statement that while Muslims can offer Namaz, there should be restrictions on how and where they perform it in relation to Hindu festivals.

Singh said, 'They can offer Namaz, we have no issues, but they can't say things like colour shouldn't fall within the distance of 20 meters or 25 meters from them because 'Pichkari' (water guns) has no measurement... it is the festival of our God.'

He further said 'Those who have issues, the way they cover Mosques with tarpaulin, they can make a headscarf with tarpaulin so that their skull cap won't get drenched.'

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav hit back at Haribhushan Thakur's appeal to Muslims to 'stay indoors' with - 'Baap ka raaj hai kya?.' Further, Yadav slammed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for not taking action against the BJP MLA for his remarks.

The RJD leader also said that the Chief Minister was in an 'unconscious state' for not call out the BJP MLA for his controversial statement. (ANI)