BENGALURU: The BJP on Wednesday sought to distance itself from the call to boycott Muslim mango traders saying neither the party nor the government is involved in the campaign. In the latest controversy following the hijab row, ban on Muslim traders near temples and the move to mute loudspeakers at mosques, proHindu groups have urged Hindus to boycott Muslim mango traders because they “monopolise” the trade and deny Hindus space in the business.
However, K Gopalaiah, horticulture minister, said: “It’s up to the individual to buy fruits from whomever or wherever s/he wants. The government has no role to play in it. ” But in the same breath, the minister said it is “the opinion” of some people that Muslims are monopolising the business. “Farmers hand over mangoes to those who offer a good price,” Gopalaiah said. “People of all communities grow mangoes and sellers are also from all communities. Let us leave this at this stage. We have other work [to do]. ”
