Troubles have mounted for BJP MLA from Karnataka Sanjay Patil as an FIR has been filed against him on charges of delivering a provocative speech in Belagavi. Talking about the Karnataka polls, the MLA had said “this election is about Hindus vs Muslims”.
In a controversial remark, speaking at a campaign meeting in Sulebhavi village 4 days ago, Patil had said the electoral contest in the state was “not about roads and drinking water but Hindu and Muslim religions”.
Sanjay Patil, Belagavi (Rural) MLA and BJP candidate, was seen making the purported remarks in a video shot in his constituency amid loud cheers by a crowd of his supporters.
The video went viral on the social media.
“…This election is not about road, drainage or drinking water. This election is about Hindu and Muslim religions.” the BJP leader told the crowd.
“Keeping a hand on my chest I say loudly, this is Bharat, this is the country of Hindus, and this is the country where (Lord) Ram was born. We are prepared to do anything to construct Ram mandir in Ayodhya,” Patil purportedly said in the footage.
Patil also told the crowd that the Congress favoured constructing a mosque in Ayodhya instead of a Ram temple.
“Let Laxmi Hebbalkar speak about constructing Ram mandir, you all vote for her, but she can’t say it, as she is among those who will construct a masjid, Babri masjid,” he said, insisting the May 12 polls were “very important”.
It is to be noted that Hebbalkar, the Karnataka Mahila Congress chief, is pitted against BJP’s Patil from Belagavi (Rural) constituency.
(With agency inputs)