Former Karnataka minister and senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa, known for his provocative and incendiary speeches targeting Muslims, has once again sent a threatening message to the Muslim community, urging them to voluntarily vacate mosques that he claims were built on temple lands.
His call, made during a speech at a Hindu workers' convention in Belagavi, comes with dire consequences for the Muslim community if they fail to comply.
"For those areas where mosques have been constructed, it would be advantageous if you (Muslims) voluntarily vacate. Otherwise, the repercussions, including how many will be killed and what all would happen, we don't know," the former minister added.
This is not the first time Eshwarappa has made such communal remarks, as he previously stated in December last year that no mosque built after destroying a temple would be spared in the country.
He expressed his personal opinion that India would become a Hindu nation and hinted at the upcoming developments in Ayodhya and other temple-related matters.
Eshwarappa's latest remarks come amidst ongoing tensions surrounding religious sites, with him emphasizing the consideration of two more places, including Mathura, for the construction of temples pending court verdicts.
The former minister's controversial statements have fuelled concerns about rising religious polarization in the region.
In April last year, Eshwarappa had also stirred controversy by asserting that the BJP would not need Muslim votes to win Karnataka Assembly elections. His repeated divisive rhetoric raises questions about the potential impact on communal harmony and the political landscape in the state.