Bengaluru, BJP leader and Member of Parliament Anantkumar Hegde has sparked controversy with a hate speech, suggesting that a mosque in Bhatkal, Karnataka, will be demolished just as the Babri Masjid was.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Hegde, a former Union Minister, declared that the demolition of the Chinnada Palli mosque would be carried out not as his decision but as the collective will of the Hindu community. He also made inflammatory comments about former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Congress leader Sanjay Gandhi.
The speech has been met with criticism from Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi. The police have since filed a case against Hegde, invoking sections related to hate speech and attempting to incite unrest.