Goli maro', 'India-Pak' hurt BJP in Delhi: Shah

New Delhi : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said statements like 'goli maro' and 'Indo-Pak match' should not have been made by BJP leaders while campaigning for the Delhi Assembly elections and that such remarks may have cost the party dearly.

He, however, said the BJP does not fight elections just for victory or defeat but believes in expanding its ideology through polls. "Such statements should not have been made. Our party has distanced itself from such remarks," he said.

Shah was asked a question about a few BJP leaders raising slogans like 'goli maro' and talking about the 'Indo-Pak match' during the Delhi elections campaigning.

"No one has said bahu betiyon ka balatkar karenge (wives and daughters will be raped). But the rest -- goli maaro, Indo-Pak match -- those also should not have made. The party distanced itself immediately," Amit Shah said

He admitted that the BJP may have suffered in the polls because of the statements made by some of its leaders. "It is possible that our performance may have suffered because of this," he said.

Shah said his assessment on Delhi elections went wrong but asserted that the result of the polls was not a mandate on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) or the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

He said anyone who wants to discuss issues related to CAA with him can seek time from his office.