Rajasthan BJP MLA labels Udaipur areas 'Mini Pakistan' before civic polls
Synopsis
A sitting BJP MLA called two Udaipur neighbourhoods 'Mini Pakistan' at a party workers' conference days before Rajasthan's civic elections — citing decade-old crime data and crediting BJP policing for the turnaround. The remarks are set to become a flashpoint as municipal campaigning intensifies.
Key Takeaways
BJP MLA Tarachand Jain referred to Khanjipir and Ayad areas of Udaipur as 'Mini Pakistan' on 25 August .
Jain claimed crimes from Khanjipir accounted for roughly 25 per cent of total district cases over the past decade .
He credited the establishment of a DySP office in Khanjipir for improved law and order under the BJP government.
The remarks came during BJP organisational meetings ahead of Rajasthan municipal elections .
Jain predicted Congress would not cross double digits in Udaipur city in the civic polls.
Udaipur City Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Tarachand Jain sparked sharp controversy on Tuesday, 25 August by referring to the Khanjipir and Ayad localities of Udaipur as 'Mini Pakistan' during a party workers' conference, with Rajasthan's civic elections fast approaching.
What Jain Said
Speaking at the BJP's rural assembly constituency workers' conference in Udaipur, Jain claimed both areas had historically served as refuges for criminals and notorious offenders. He described Khanjipir as one of the main arterial routes into Udaipur city, alongside the railway station corridor, and said the area's past criminal reputation had earned it the label 'Mini Pakistan.'
Jain cited crime statistics to back his claims, asserting that data from the Khanjipir police post over the past decade would show cases registered there accounted for roughly 25 per cent of total crimes in the district. He said similar conditions had prevailed in Ayad but maintained that both neighbourhoods were now on a path of improvement.
Government Action Credited
Jain attributed the turnaround to stronger policing under the current BJP administration. He specifically pointed to the establishment of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) office in the Khanjipir area as a key factor in reinforcing law enforcement and restoring order. He presented these developments as an achievement of the BJP government in Rajasthan.
Organisational Context
The remarks were made during a day of back-to-back BJP organisational meetings in Udaipur — a rural workers' conference in the morning and a city unit conference in the evening — as the party mobilises ahead of the municipal elections. Jain also referenced Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, saying he had recently received him as part of protocol and that Kataria had praised development work at Mukherjee Chowk, noting that projects once considered difficult had since been completed.
Poll Positioning and Ticket Distribution
Jain took direct aim at the Indian National Congress (Congress), predicting it would fail to cross double digits in Udaipur city in the upcoming municipal elections and asserting the BJP was well-placed to dominate. On candidate selection, he told party workers that the BJP would factor in community representation and workers' feedback while finalising tickets.
The controversy over Jain's remarks is likely to intensify as campaigning for the civic polls heats up, with opposition parties expected to respond to the 'Mini Pakistan' characterisation of two residential localities in Udaipur.
Point of View
Yet it now anchors a narrative about two residential localities. What mainstream coverage may underplay is that such labels, applied to named neighbourhoods with identifiable communities, have lasting social consequences well beyond the election cycle. The BJP's decision to use organisational meetings as the platform — rather than a formal press event — gives the party deniability while ensuring the remarks circulate. Rajasthan's civic polls will test whether this brand of polarising local rhetoric energises the base or triggers a backlash.
NationPress
26 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did BJP MLA Tarachand Jain say about Udaipur's Khanjipir and Ayad areas?
Jain referred to both areas as 'Mini Pakistan' at a BJP workers' conference on 25 August, claiming they had historically been havens for criminals. He cited unverified data suggesting Khanjipir accounted for around 25 per cent of total district crimes over the past decade.
Why did Jain make these remarks?
Jain made the remarks during BJP organisational meetings in Udaipur ahead of Rajasthan's municipal elections. He framed the 'Mini Pakistan' label as a past reputation and used it to credit the BJP government's policing improvements, including the establishment of a DySP office in Khanjipir.
What is the political context of this controversy?
The controversy erupted days before Rajasthan's civic polls, with the BJP holding back-to-back workers' conferences in Udaipur. Jain also predicted Congress would fail to cross double digits in Udaipur city, signalling an aggressive pre-election posture by the party.
Who is Tarachand Jain?
Tarachand Jain is the sitting BJP MLA from the Udaipur City assembly constituency in Rajasthan. He was speaking at his party's rural assembly constituency workers' conference when he made the remarks.
What reaction is expected to Jain's 'Mini Pakistan' remark?
Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, are expected to respond sharply to the characterisation of two residential Udaipur localities as 'Mini Pakistan.' The remarks are likely to become a focal point in the civic election campaign as polling approaches.
