At an cultural programme on Uttarakhand, BJP MLA Ravinder Singh Negi claimed that people with a “jihadi mindset” had allegedly occupied land previously owned by Hindus to construct mosques, madrasas, and graveyards, and asserted that they were evicted under the Pushkar Singh Dhami government, which he said had saved the state from becoming a “mini Bengal.” He further claimed that there are 57 Islamic countries but only one “Hindu Rashtra,” warning that if Hindus do not protect their religion, they would be forced to flee the country.