Bengaluru: Days after B Nagendra resigned from chief minister DK Shivakumar’s cabinet, another Karnataka minister has courted controversy after saying that Islam is “superior” to other religions.
Speaking at a mass marriage programme organised by the Muslim community in Kuknoor on Saturday, Basavaraj Rayareddi spoke highly about Islam and expressed the desire to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage, PTI reported.
“I would like to say that Islam is shreshta dharam (greatest religion) than other dharmas,” he said, explaining that there are misconceptions about the religion.
“Islam is a great religion full of humanity. But wrong notions are being spread about Islam in society. This religion teaches how a human should live in society,” Basavaraj said.
He added that he has tried to study the Quran which is not limited to Muslims alone, and can be studied by everyone.
“Read it, understand, and don’t become bigots, don’t become casteists… We should respect all religions, we should know good things in all religions as religions are for well-being of mankind and we should try to do good.”
“Islam is a good religion. I’m speaking here very happily. I’m thinking very much about going to Mecca, but I can’t go there as one should convert to Islam (to go there). It’s a tradition in that religion,” he said.
“Islam is a good religion, there are good teachings in it, you should follow it, instead of just going to Masjid,” Basavaraj added.
The BJP wasted no time in slamming the Karnataka minister, and even chief minister DKS was not spared.
R Ashoka, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, demanded that Basavaraj must withdraw his statements and apologise to all Hindus, and if he is not prepared to do so, the chief minister should remove him from the Cabinet.
“CM DK Shivakumar, is there no end to this anti-Hindu mindset of your Congress government? You put on a show of visiting temples at dawn, performing devotion in front of the cameras, but why do you stay silent only when a minister in your own cabinet makes derogatory statements about Sanatan Hindu Dharma and temples, Mr. DKShi?” Ashoka further stated.
Calling Basavaraj’s statements “arrogant”, Ashoka accused him of “demeaning” Sanatan Dharma.
Under fire Basavaraj tried to control damage, saying that he didn’t imply other religions are bad.
“I never said that other religions are bad. All religions are great… I have visited Kashi and several Jyotirlingas,” he told reporters.