Karnataka BJP MLA Basanagouda Yatnal on Sunday called for a survey by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) claiming that mosques in Vijayapura district are built over Hindu temples.
Yatnal made the remarks days after BJP MP Anant Kumar Hegde sparked a row by saying that the Bhatkal Mosque in the Uttara Kannada district would meet the same fate as the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.
Yatnal said that he had written a letter to the ASI to conduct a survey in Vijayapura mosques similar to that of Qutub Minar in Delhi. He said, “There was a Jain temple, a Narasimha temple and a Shiva temple. There were a good number of Hindu architectures there (Vijayapura district). We are not exaggerating. There was Nandi, pictures of Hindus, and lotus flowers, all integral to the Hindu culture.”
The BJP leader asserted that he would approach court if the ASI gives a positive response.
Earlier, on Sunday, a case was registered against Anant Kumar Hegde under Section 153(A) (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence).
“The destruction of Bhatkal Mosque is guaranteed like Babri Masjid. This is not the decision of Anantkumar Hegde, but the decision of Hindu society,” Hegde said.