Shivamogga: Rural Development and Panchayat Raj minister KS Eshwarappa made a controversial statement on Wednesday, the day of foundation stone-laying ceremony of the new Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. He expressed a need to build mandirs in Kaashi and Mathura by destroying the existing mosques.
Speaking at an event in Shivamogga, marking the Ram Mandir foundation stone-laying ceremony, he said that these two mosques reflect the slavery of the Hindus. “There is an urgent need to free these two places also,” he said.
KSE, who is also the district in-charge minister, said that the Ram Mandir foundation stone laying ceremony is the first step towards ending the slavery culture and restoring the Hindu culture in Lord Ram’s birthplace.
He added that the mosques in Mathura and Kashi were built by demolishing the temples. He then expressed the need for Hindu temples to be built in these places in order to restore Hindu culture.
His statement is likely to ignite a new controversy in the state as progressive thinkers are urging Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa to remove Eshwarappa from the cabinet.
