Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy

BENGALURU: Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy stoked controversy on Wednesday by asking the BJP to present an account of the number of bricks collected by the party in the name of constructing the controversial Ram Mandir in Uttar Pradesh.

Replying to the motion of thanks on governor’s address, Kumaraswamy took the opposition head-on, saying, “You (BJP) keeping asking me when I will waive farmer loans. You (BJP) give an account of the number of bricks collected in the name of Ram Mandir. The BJP has dumped bricks collected in thippe gundi (garbage bins) and pocketed the money. They have been constructing the Ram Mandir for the last 25 years now and it is nowhere near completion.”

The collection of bricks for Ram Mandir began in the early 90s, when the demolition of the Babri Masjid rocked the nation.

Kumaraswamy's statement riled BJP MLCs, who immediately launched a protest. MLC Ayanur Manjunath claimed the statement of the CM was “insensitive” and “hurt the sentiments” of lakhs of people who donated hard-earned money to the cause. “We have patiently listened to the statements by the CM, but his offending our commitment to the Ram Mandir cause and its construction is unacceptable and he needs to retract it.”

Opposition leader, Kota Srinivas Poojari, also attacked the CM and said Ram Mandir is an integral part of the BJP ethos and that legal challenges were the reason for the delay. However, Kumaraswamy said: “I may have offended your sentiments, but people of this nation have a right to seek an account of the money and bricks collected for building the Ram Mandir. Whom have you submitted the accounts to?”

The statement drew BJP members out of their chairs and into the well of the house in protest. With the clamour refusing to abate, the chief minister withdrew his statement.

“If I have offended the sentiments of the people, I apologise,” Kumaraswamy said. “I am sure all the bricks have been safely stored and secured. Perhaps, in the next 15 to 20 years, the BJP will finally lay the foundation stone for Ram Mandir,” he said.

