Conflict

‘Will rename a mosque after Lord Vishnu’, says BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra during TV debate

Ruling party BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra ignited controversy after he got into an argument with a member of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) during his appearance on a television panel on Friday.

News channel Aaj Tak’s panel about the renaming of cities in Uttar Pradesh included Patra and Syed Asim Waqar, the national spokesperson of the AIMIM, among others. During the TV debate, Patra claimed Hindus had been oppressed by Muslims for centuries and names of the cities were first changed by invaders as a part of the exercise.

Upon inquiry by Waqar as to why the BJP had changed the name of Ekana International Stadium to Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Cricket Stadium in that case, Patra asked him to keep quiet, saying, “Or else I will rename a mosque after Lord Vishnu, then you’ll keep shouting”.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India has registered an FIR against Patra for violating the model code of conduct in Madhya Pradesh.

Opposition party Congress had moved the EC against Patra for holding a roadside press conference and blocking the road on October 27.

EC officials said Patra not only addressed the media by the side of a road but also violated the time slot given to him. Though the organisers had sought a slot between 1 pm and 3 pm that day, Patra addressed the media between 12 noon and 12.30 pm in violation of EC rules.

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