New Delhi: Union Minister Giriraj Singh is a demagogue leader and has sparked another controversy by saying that ‘Muslims were the descendants of Lord Ram and not the Mughals, and therefore must support the construction of Ram Mandir’. Singh said most Muslims are in favour of Ram Mandir but those who are opposing will infuse hatred among the hearts of Hindus which will in turn explode into a volcano. “The Muslims of India are our own descendants (brethren). They are descendants of Lord Ram and not of the Mughals. I appeal to them to take two steps forward the way Shias have done,” the minister of state for micro, small and medium enterprises told a news conference in Baghpat, near Delhi. “The majority of Muslims are in favour of a Ram temple. I appeal to those who are creating hurdles to come forward. If they don’t, they would create hatred in the minds of Hindus for them. What will happen if that hatred turned into volcanoes?”

Singh who has earned the distinction of being garrulous was slammed by Sanjay Singh of the JDU whose government is in alliance with the BJP.  “This country functions with Hindus and Muslims working together. Leaders like him make remarks that divide the country. They should ideally be talking about how to curb unemployment, poverty, reduce inflation, farmer issues,” Sanjay Singh, JDU said.

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Responding to the BJP leader’s irresponsible statements, RJD’s Bhai Virendra said “these RSS leaders were the agents of the British and have no right to speak anything like this.” In a bid to downplay Giriraj’s remarks, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said he didn’t find anything controversial about what the former said.

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Asked to be more explicit, he said: “A law for a Ram temple and population control would be possible only through public participation. I’m here (to address an NGO’s rally for a population-control law) for the same reason.” According to the Sangh parivar, India’s Muslims have a higher birth rate than Hindus and would outnumber Hindus if the trend continues, the Telegraph reported. “Hindus cannot express themselves freely where their population is less (than that of the Muslims),” Giriraj later told the Jansankhya Kanoon Rally, organised by the Jansankhya Samadhan Foundation. “The Hindu population has decreased in 24 districts in the country. The same thing will happen in 250 districts in the coming days. Voting rights should be taken away from those who have many children. If you want to teach the equality of all religions, better teach it to the Muslims.”