BJP MLA threatens missile strike on Bhopal’s Muslim-majority locality

Bhopal: BJP Huzur MLA Rameshwar Sharma threatened to target a Muslim-majority locality in Bhopal with a missile, saying one fired from Karond Square should land in Qazi Camp. The remark sparked outrage, with Congress leaders accusing the legislator of making an inflammatory statement that could disturb communal harmony.

Sharma made the controversial remark during a Matki Phod competition at Bhagat Singh Square in Karond on Sunday night. Speaking about Hindu unity, nationalism and terrorism, he urged Hindus to overcome caste divisions and put religious and national identity above caste differences.

Referring to Pakistan, Sharma said Matki Phod competitions would eventually be held in Lahore, Dhaka and Islamabad. He then spoke about breaking a matki in Islamabad before making the missile reference to Qazi Camp.

Following the backlash, Sharma sought to clarify his statement, claiming he was referring not to Qazi Camp in Bhopal but to a locality of the same name in Islamabad. He linked his remarks to India’s military strength and its response to terrorism.

The explanation, however, failed to settle the controversy. Congress spokesperson Rahul Raj accused the BJP and RSS of displaying a double standard on Hindu-Muslim relations. Congress media coordinator Abbas Hafiz said he could not find any place called Qazi Camp in Islamabad through internet searches and questioned Sharma over the location he had referred to.

Congress leaders Asad Uddin Kurwai and Dr Aminul Khan Suri called the remark inflammatory and demanded an FIR. Journalist Kalpesh Raval also disputed Sharma’s claim about Qazi Camp in Islamabad and called for action against the MLA.