BJP leader MP Renukacharya who is political secretary to Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, stoked a fresh controversy by stating that he will cut all facilities given to minorities in the Honnali Assembly constituency as they "have not voted for him in the elections".
"They did not vote for me in 2018 elections and I am sure that they will not vote to me in future as well. That's why I want to find places where they live in the constituency and I will cut the facilities given to them in Honnali," Renukacharya said in a public meeting in his constituency.
"My agenda is to make my constituency saffronized in the future. I do not ask Muslims to vote for me," he added.
Reacting to Renukacharya's comments, former Chief Minister and Congress leader Sidharamaiah has said that the state leaders are following the example set by the Prime Minister.
"To hide their mischievous acts incapable Narendra Modi keeps on chanting Pakistan's name and BJP leaders in Karnataka are following in the footsteps of the Delhi leaders. They are speaking so like this to create communal tension and it seems they have lost their mental stability," Siddaramaiah said.
Not new to giving controversial statements, Renukacharya had earlier said that "few traitors" keep weapons in mosques instead of praying there.
"There are few traitors who sit in a Masjid and write Fatwa. They collect weapons inside the mosque instead of praying. Is this why you want a Masjid?" Renukacharya had said on Monday.
( With inputs from ANI )