An outraged Rajasthan BJP leader apologizes for saying that Gurudwaras should be “uprooted”

Leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party Sandeep Dayma has expressed regret for comments he made at an election rally in Alwar, Rajasthan, disparaging Gurudwaras. Dayma had allegedly said, “Look how many mosques and gurdwaras have been built here!” at an election rally in Alwar’s Tijara constituency in favor of BJP candidate Balaknath. We’ll eventually get an ulcer from this. It is thus our responsibility to remove this ulcer and ensure that Baba Balak Nathji wins by a landslide.

His comments infuriated the Sikh population in the area, which set fire to the BJP leader’s effigy and asked that he be held accountable for offending the religious emotions of the approximately 5,000 Sikhs living in the seat.

The BJP politician then clarified his comments in a video message, claiming that he had used the “wrong words” in reference to Gurudwara Saheb rather than mosques.

“I accidentally ended up using some incorrect wording regarding the Gurdwara Saheb in place of Masjid-madrasa. I respectfully want an apology from the Sikh community as a whole, who have always upheld Hinduism and Sanatan Dharma. I have no idea how I made the error. I shall visit a gurdwara to atone for my error, and I sincerely apologize to the Sikh community as a whole. In the video, he said, “Sat Sri Akal!” A video of him attending a Gurudwara was also released by him.

Balak Nath, the BJP’s Alwar MP, has been nominated from the Tijara seat. The Hindu priest leader is said to be close to BJP chief minister Yogi Adityanath in Uttar Pradesh, and if the party wins, there are rumors among the local BJP activists that Balak Nath would be the saffron party’s choice for chief minister of Rajasthan.

On November 25, elections are planned for the 200-member Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. On December 3, the results will also be made public. The voting will take place on that day.

In Rajasthan, where there hasn’t been an incumbent government elected in more than thirty years, the Congress is vying for another term, while the BJP hopes to topple the Ashok Gehlot-led administration.