Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, KS Eshwarappa, has sparked a fresh controversy with his recent statements, declaring that no mosque built after destroying a temple would be spared in the country.
Addressing the media in Gadag city, Eshwarappa, known for his provocative remarks, stated, “I won’t speak about newly-built mosques, but those built after destroying our temples won’t be spared. Not a single such mosque will stand in this country. This is my personal opinion.”
He said that the BJP’s agenda did not involve making India a Hindu nation, emphasizing that it was the aspiration of Hindus.
“I will pledge and say India will become a Hindu nation,” Eshwarappa said.
He referenced the ongoing struggle, dating back to the pre-independence period, and highlighted the recent decision to build the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Eshwarappa criticized the alleged destruction in Mathura and Kashi by Muslims, claiming that those who had raised their voices against it in the past were now at peace in heaven.
“On January 22, the whole world will look towards Ayodhya. The court proceedings on the matter of the Kashi Vishwanath temple are in favor of Hindus. The order for a survey has been granted for the Krishna temple in Mathura. Everything will happen one after the other,” he said.
“We have shared the blood of freedom fighters. Tipu’s (erstwhile Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan) blood won’t flow in us. We will save temples at Hindu pilgrimage centers of Ayodhya, Kashi, and Mathura,” Eshwarappa said.
He accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of supporting Minister for Housing Zameer Ahmad Khan in making statements, such as the government compelling all Hindu legislators to say salaam to a Muslim Speaker.
Regarding the proposal to make AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge the prime ministerial candidate for the INDIA bloc, Eshwarappa described it as an insult to Dalits. He claimed that when Kharge’s name was proposed, former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar walked out, characterizing it as a betrayal of Dalits by the Congress.
Eshwarappa, who had previously stirred controversy by stating that the Bhagva flag would be hoisted on the Red Fort in New Delhi, continues to be a polarizing figure, sparking debates on religious tolerance and political ideologies within the country.
