Haryana polls: Amit Shah shares stage with DP Yadav, sparks controversy

BJP president Amit Shah landed himself in controversy on Tuesday after he was seen sharing a stage with mafia-don turned politician DP Yadav at a party campaign rally in Haryana. According to this report in The Indian Express, Yadav said he accompanied Shah because they were friends, but would never do so if he was not invited to, has expressed his willingness to join the party if there is a good offer by the BJP. [caption id=“attachment_1739279” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Mafia don turned politician DP Yadav.[/caption] “So what if I accompanied the BJP national president? He is my friend. I am campaigning for the BJP in Haryana because of my friends. There are many candidates who share an old association with me. Some studied with me in school, some were athletes with me, a few were business associates. I will be campaigning for BJP candidates in Haryana,” Yadav told The Indian Express. The Indian Express further quotes sources within the BJP as saying that Yadav travelled with Shah in his helicopter to attend public meetings in Ambala City, Tohana and Bhiwani. “They were on stage together at the rally in Ambala, where Shah sought votes for the BJP candidate from Ambala (City), Aseem Goel,” the daily reported. DP Yadav’s son Vikas Yadav has been convicted in the Nitish Kataria murder case as well as the Jessica Lal murder case and is currently serving a life term. Shah’s move came in for criticism by Nitish Kataria’s mother who questioned the BJP government’s achhe din if politicians were sharing a stage with controversial leaders. “If people like DP Yadav have ache din ahead of him, then I wonder what is in store for the rest of us,” Neelam Katara told India Today, adding, “Anyone who cares for his mother will stand by me.” DP Yadav, who was once thrown out of the party over his alleged criminal background. Yadav was inducted into the BJP on 20 February 2004, but had his membership terminated only four days later following allegations of corruption.