By Maktoob
After threatening to launch a missile at a Muslim-majority area in Bhopal, BJP MLA and Hindutva politician Rameshwar Sharma delivered a rape threat and made hateful remarks about Muslim men attending Garba events, saying, “Bring your sisters and daughters too, our boys are also ready.”
Speaking at a public event, Sharma, the BJP legislator from Bhopal’s Huzur constituency, said Muslims were welcome to attend Garba and suggested they should be “welcomed” permanently. He then said: “Why do Muslim boys alone want to come to Garba? Bring your sisters and daughters along from home too, our boys are also ready.”
“Come, chant Jai Shri Ram. Apply tilak on your forehead. Protect mother cow. Does anyone have a problem?,” he asked.
Sharma later stood by his remarks, saying that if Muslims had developed “so much love and attachment to Sanatan”, they should bring their “sisters and daughters”, as well as their mothers and fathers, and participate in the religious celebrations rather than merely watching Garba.
“And don’t come to watch Garba, but yourself perform the worship festival of the Goddess, play Garba, take Maa Jagdamba’s prasad….”
Congress MLA Arif Masood (Bhopal Central) strongly condemned the statement, calling it “highly objectionable,” “extremely vile and cheap,” and “filthy.”
He referred to Sharma as a “Nafrati Chintu” (hate-monger), said Muslims have “nothing to do with Garba,” and accused him of using rude language that incites Islamophobic passions. Masood repeatedly urged Sharma to “mend your ways,” stop being insolent, and refrain from such remarks.
Congress’ media head and former education minister Mukesh Nayak said such statements were Sharma’s “USP” and that he had become an MLA “three or four times by saying this”, using such remarks to “polarize the election” in the constituency.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.