‘Uproot Masjids and Gurdwaras’, ‘Ulcers’, Says BJP Member In Rajasthan

Former BJP candidate from Rajasthan, Sandeep Dayma has stirred a controversy amidst the run up to the Rajasthan Polls with his divisive, communal remarks at a rally in Tijara, Rajasthan, leading to protests by the Sikh Community. In order to gather support for, BJP in Tijara, Sanjay Dayma has urged voters to vote for Alwar MP, Baba Balaknath, Tijara’s BJP candidate for the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, who would ‘uproot the masjids and gurudwaras’ in Rajasthan. He was also heard referring to Sikh and Muslim religious places as ulcers.

Dayma initially made a statement against both the Sikh and Muslim communities of Rajasthan by declaring clear intent of violence against gurudwaras and mosques and then with the objection of the Sikh community, followed it up with an apology stating that he meant only the mosques and not the gurudwaras. The hate speech was made in the presence of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath who can be seen clapping at the comments of his party member from Rajasthan.

Sanjay Dayma in the video on X, formerly Twitter, can be heard saying, “See how many mosques, gurdwaras have been built here! This will become an ulcer for us in the future. That is why it’s our duty that this ulcer be uprooted and thrown.” “If the Congress candidate wins from this constituency, the number of masjids and gurdwaras will rise and that will be problematic for people living here.” He later threatens to ‘uproot’ them if the BJP comes out victorious in the elections.

With objections flowing in from Sikh outfits and Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), the former BJP candidate has issued an apology in a video on X. He says in the video that he meant to say ‘masjids and madrasas’ and not gurudwaras. The SGPC has responded to his apology by stating, “He should be ashamed of this statement too, as speaking against religious places of Muslims is equally condemnable as Gurdwaras.”

Member of Parliament Sukhbir Singh Badal on X, “The Khalsa Panth and its sword arm, the Shiromani Akali Dal, outrightly reject the qualified and weak apology offered by BJP leader from Rajasthan Sandeep Dayma for his outrageous, anti-minority and anti-national call for uprooting and demolishing Sikh Gurdhams as well as Masjids.”

“He seems to suffer from an arrogant and perverted mindset and he doesn’t understand that there is no difference among shrines of different religions, be it a temple, a Gurdwara, a masjid or any other place of worship.@Akali_Dal_ stands for peace & communal harmony and demands that people like Sandeep Dayma who disturb peace and communal harmony should face case for destroying communal harmony. They should have no place in the country’s public life.”

According to the New Indian Express, a notice has been issued to Dayma by Tijara SDO and Returning Officer Anoop Singh for violating the model code of conduct. After the Election Commission sent a notice to Dayma, Baba Balaknath spoke to the press, saying the Sikh community “has always protected Sanatan Dharm and sanskriti” and hoped that “it will forgive if some mistake has been made by some kids”. “At times, unknowingly, some sin happens. In that context, I pray to Guru Gobind Singhji for forgiveness. I will also tell Sandeep Dayma to go to the door of Guru Gobind Singhji and do some religious activity, so that he can be sin free,” he added.

At the same event Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath too made some violent comments with references to both the Taliban and the war in Palestine. He has accused the Congress of having a “Talibani mentality” by saying, “The Congress government in Rajasthan is Hindu against the Hindus. The cure for the Taliban is the mace of Bajrang Bali. You can see how Israel is crushing the Talibani mentality in Gaza, with precise targets.”

In September Baba Balaknath has also allegedly made a speech in Udaipur saying that Santan Dharm will cut of the heads of non-Hindus, “people who spread disunity” and called Muslims ‘monsters’.

Muslims account for 37 percent of the population in Tijara, the single largest majority and Sikhs roughly 3 percent of the total population. Rajasthan is all set to go to polls on 25^th November this year.