“This election is not about road, gutter or drinking water… This election is about Hindus vs Muslims, Ram Mandir vs Babri Masjid.”
This is what the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Belagavi Rural (Mumbai-Karnataka region) MLA Sanjay Patil can be heard saying in a highly circulated video. The speech was part of his poll pitch on Tuesday, 17 April.
I am Sanjay Patil, I am Hindu, this is a Hindu rashtra and we want to build the Ram temple. If Lakshmi Hebbalikar says she can build the mandir – vote for her. They will build Babri Masjid instead. Whoever wants Babri Masjid, Tipu Jayanthi they should vote for the Congress. And who wants Shivaji Maharaj and Ram Mandir should vote for the BJP.Sanjay Patil, BJP MLA