Daijiworld Media Network – Belagavi (DC)

Belagavi, Apr 21: The Congress has filed a complaint with election commission against a BJP MLA from Belagavi, Sanjay Patil, who provoked outrage with his comment that the May 12 election is "not about roads and drinking water but about Hindu-Muslim incidents,"

AICC Secretary Suraj Hegde and other Congress leaders met the election commission officer on April 20 and demanded strict action against the BJP MLA for provoking statement. "The BJP MLA has violated the election code of conduct by making a statement to incite communal hatred ahead of elections," he said.

The election commission has registered an FIR against the BJP MLA and the probe is underway in this regard, informed State election officer Sanjiv Kumar.

Addressing a press meet at Vikasa Soudha, Kumar said that action will be taken after getting a detailed report on the case. "We have taken the case very seriously since the statement by the BJP leader might incite communal clash," Kumar added.

It may be recalled that a video of the comments by MLA Sanjay Patil in Belagavi was in wide circulation in the run-up to the assembly polls. "I am Sanjay Patil, I am Hindu. This is a Hindu Rashtra (nation) and we want to build the Ram temple. If Lakshmi Hebbalkar (Congress candidate and president of KPCC women's wing) says she can build the Mandir - vote for her. They will build Babri Masjid instead. Whoever wants Babri Masjid, Tipu Jayanti, they should vote for the Congress. And who wants Shivaji Maharaj and Ram Mandir and Shambhaji Maharaj should vote for the BJP," the MLA was heard saying in Kannada at what appeared to be a public meeting.

Sanjay Patil represents the Belagavi Rural constituency in north Karnataka, which is near the state’s border with Maharashtra. This was not the first time one of his videos has caused a flutter. In another clip in 2017, Sanjay Patil was heard shouting and threatening a police officer who was trying to maintain order during a motorcycle rally.