A man bearing the name of a BJP MLA in Uttar Pradesh can be heard in an audiotape warning a local leader against uttering the word “Thakur” while complaining against alleged molesters and also not to make it evident in the police case that the accused belong to the upper caste.

Opposition parties in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh often accuse the Yogi Adityanath government of pampering Thakur castemen while victimising others, particularly the Brahmins.

The caller in the audiotape of a purported phone conversation identifies himself as Chaturbhuj Prasad, general secretary of the BJP’s divisional sub-unit of Gorakhpur city. He addresses the person he calls as “vidhayakji” (MLA). The person who receives the call identifies himself as Radha Mohan.

The four-time MLA of Gorakhpur Urban is Radha Mohan Das Agrawal.

When The Telegraph contacted Agrawal on Thursday, he said: “I am fighting against a scam in the construction of an embankment and four MLAs of my own party are supporting the corrupt officers of the public works department. May be my enemies are floating such an audio to harm me. I don’t remember talking to anybody about this case of molestation.”

Chaturbhuj Prasad, general secretary of the BJP’s divisional sub-unit of Gorakhpur city, didn’t receive calls from this newspaper.

A BJP source said the conversation dates back to May. Chief minister Adityanath, a Thakur, had represented Gorakhpur for long in Parliament.

Excerpts from the purported telephone conversation:

Receiver: Radha Mohan speaking.
Caller: Vidhayakji, pranam.
Receiver: Ji, pranam.
Caller: I am Chaturbhuj Prasad, general secretary of the BJP’s divisional sub-unit of Gorakhpur city. Vidhayakji, I had a request.
Receiver: Why don’t you talk to the MLA of your area (Gorakhpur Rural)?
Caller: No, no, it is a matter of the Gorakhnath police station area, so I was compelled to call you. RK (name changed by this newspaper) lives in Alinagar. I know him well. His relative SK (name changed) lives in Ram Nagar….
Receiver: Okay.
Caller: SK has young daughters in his family. A Thakur family also lives in the area.
Receiver: Thakur parivar nahin rehte hain, parivar rehte hain (Not a Thakur family, a family lives there).
Caller: Yes, a Thakur family lives there.
Receiver: Bhajpa mein hain, Thakuron ki sarkar chal rahi hai aur aap Thakur parivar ki baat kar rahe hain (You are in the BJP. The government is of the Thakurs, and you are talking about a Thakur family). What wrong have they done? Do Baniyas ever run the government? Behave properly with the Thakurs. Don’t say they are a Thakur family.
Caller: Sir, SK has young daughters in the family. For two, three, four months, these people are misbehaving with the girls. The day before yesterday, RK and his son, since they are relatives (of SK), went (to the accused) around 8pm to make them see sense. They fought during which MK (RK’s son) son, suffered face and head injuries. The other side has also suffered injuries, but the SO (station officer) of Gorakhnath accepted the application of only one side and is conducting a one-sided investigation.
Receiver: Who is the SO there?
Caller: Sir, I don’t know the name of the SO.
(Someone from behind tells him the name of the SO)
Receiver: What is the proof that there has been molestation?
Caller: They are girls and whatever the family would say should be taken into consideration.
Receiver: Have you lodged any complaint about the molestation before today?
Caller: Sir, the honour of the family….
Receiver: This has been going on for four months. Who will believe if you level such allegations now? How old are the girls?
Caller: They are 24-25 years old, sir.
Receiver: Will they give a statement?
Caller: Yes, sir, they will give a statement.
Receiver: How many girls are there?
Caller: They are two girls, sir.
Receiver: Will both of them testify that they were molested?
Caller: Yes, sir, they will.
Receiver: Ask both the girls to write a statement addressed to the senior superintendent of police. You go to the SSP’s gate. Send me the statement on WhatsApp. Let me read it, then only call the SSP.
Caller: Okay sir, okay sir. Pranam, sir.
Receiver: I have been seeing the theatrics of you people in BJP. It’s in your blood to be servile. Do what I have said. Prepare two separate letters. The allegations will be made in writing. Who all, and since when, have been molesting the girls. Then mention such and such SO. Just mention the names. You don’t need to spell out the obvious that the accused are Singhs (Thakurs) and the SO is also a Thakur.