With the assembly election in Karnataka approaching, state BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel sparked a fresh row by saying that the election contest is between descendants of Tipu Sultan and devotees of Ram and Hanuman. He said people who love Tipu Sultan should not live in the state.
Addressing a gathering at Koppal district's Yelaburga, BJP leader asked whether the people of the district are devotees of Lord Ram and Hanuman or sing Tipu's bhajans. "We're devotees of Lord Ram & Hanuman. We're not Tipu's descendants, we sent his descendants back. So I ask the people of Yelaburga, do you worship Hanuman or sing Tipu's bhajans? Will you chase away people who sing Tipu's bhajans?" Nalin Kumar said as quoted by news agency ANI.
"So, think if this state requires Tipu's descendants or Lord Ram's and Hanuman's devotees? I challenge on the land of Hanuman - people who love Tipu should not stay here, people who sing Lord Ram's bhajans and celebrate Lord Hanuman should stay here," he added.
However, this is not the first time he triggered controversy, earlier this year in January, he faced flak from the opposition for asking party workers to prioritise the issue of "love jihad" over the issues of roads and sewer.
"I told them not to talk about roads, gutters, drains and other small issues…. If the issue concerning your children’s lives — love jihad — has to be stopped, then we need the BJP to form the government," Kateel told party workers as quoted by IE.