Uttar Pradesh BJP lawmaker Surendra Singh made a controversial statement on Tuesday as he sought to compare government officials’ “character” to that of  sex workers. According to the BJP leader, those in flesh trade always complete their work after taking money, but officials don’t complete their assignments even after taking money.

“Officials se accha charitra vaishyaon ka hota hai, woh paisa lekar kam se kam apna kaam toh karti hain aur stage pe naachti hain. Par yeh officials toh paisa lekar bhi aapka kaam karenge ki nahi, iski koi guarantee hi nahi hai (Prostitutes are better than government officials; at least they take money and do their work and also dance on the stage. But these officials, even after taking money, don’t do their work. There is no guarantee that the work will be done),” Singh said at a public meeting.

On Monday, Surendra Singh had asked his supporters to thrash government officials with shoes if they demanded a bribe.

“Give them a ghoosa (punch) if they ask for ghoos (bribe),” Surendra Singh, the BJP MLA from Bairia, told his supporters.

In the presence of reporters, he asked his supporters to record the voice of any official who demands a bribe and present the person before him.

“If he does not agree to do his work, teach him a lesson by punching him and if he still does not agree, thrash him with shoes,” he said.

“Ghoos mangey to ghoosa do, nahin maaney to joota do,” he said, coining a slogan.

Singh defended his remark later, saying it was in the interest of the people and he was ready to go to jail for their welfare.

The BJP MLA is known for making controversial statements.

After the recent Kairana Lok Sabha and Noorpur assembly bypolls, he had blamed ministers in the Yogi Adityanath government for the party’s humiliating defeat at both places.

He said if certain ministers were not removed from the state cabinet, the ruling party’s downfall in UP was certain.

Singh had said if the grievances of the poor people were not heard at police stations, tehsil offices and block offices, they would not vote for the BJP.

“The BJP government has not been able to give a transparent government,” the MLA said in a remark that embarrassed the party.

In the past, Singh has said the 2019 Lok Sabha elections will be an “Islam vs Bhagwan” battle.

(With agency inputs)