Not water, Poll will be fought on religion: Belagavi Rural MLA, Sanjay Patil

Belagavi: Giving communal colour to the coming assembly poll in the state, Belagavi Rural MLA, Sanjay Patil on Thursday claimed it would be fought not over issues like water, drainage and roads, but the Hindu-Muslim divide.

A video-clip of his programme in Sulebhavi on Thursday, where he makes the statement, has gone viral on social media. Referring to the Ram Mandir issue, he says he is ready for any kind of sacrifice if it led to the building of the Mandir in Ayodhya.

“This country is Bharat. It’s a Hindu rashtra. A place where Ram took birth. Ram Mandir must be constructed in Ayodhya. I am ready for any kind of sacrifice to make it happen,” he declared.

Challenging Congress candidate from Belagavi rural, Laxmi Hebbalkar, to say she too wanted the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, he said, “If Hebbalkar admits she wants construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, then all of you must vote for her this election. But she will never say so. It’s impossible.”

Meanwhile, condemning the verbal abuse hurled by Mr Patil against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at an anti-Tipu Jayanti rally in Belagavi, Ms Hebbalkar has demanded his immediate arrest.