Gandhinagar: BJP leader and state minister of Gujarat Jagdish Vishwakarma claimed at the Gujarat assembly that those who encroached on the lands in Ahmedabad, Dwaraka, and Somanath were people of one particular, and they have the support of leaders of the same community. The minister was referring to a minority community. However his remarks faced objection from the lone Muslim legislator in the assembly, Imran Khedawala of Congress, saying that the minister was targeting the Muslim community, The Indian Express reported.
The minister further claimed no children born after 2002 in Gujarat do not know what curfew and communal riots are, suggesting that The government is keeping that kind of peace, safety and security in the state. He also claimed that Rath Yatra and Muharram are celebrated in the state with communal unity.
According to the minister, when authorities went to clear the area around a temple of encroachments, there were people from only one community who were illegally occupying land. The same community was encroaching on lands at Dwaraka and Somanath. The leaders from the community are backing them in encroaching on the land, the minister claimed.
To this, Imran Khedawala objected, saying that the minister was accusing Muslims of encroachment; the minister retorted that he did not take the name of any community. He further said that this particular community encroached the most on government land and caused illegal constructions in the state.
Khedawala demanded a Point of Order, but the assembly did not allow him to do so.
Later, Minister Vishwakarma said that Congress are supporting and funding “RTI activists”. He said that these actives work at the behest and finding of Congress leaders.
Khedawala told The Indian Express later that he will speak against the accusation the minister made against Muslims in the House in the coming days. The way Vishwakarma targeted Muslims was unacceptable, and he should apologise since a minister should be doing so.
Khedawala continued that while encroachment of government land is illegal and should be removed, he protests the demolition of properties under the Waqf Board, including the recent demolition of a cemetery and dargah in Gomatipur by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.