BJP MLA from Vijayapura, Basangouda Patil Yatnal, on Friday said that it was because of beef eating that the state of Kerala was being punished with floods.

Speaking to the media, he said that if Hindu sentiments are provoked, then religion will punish them. "For instance, see what happened in Kerala, a state where people openly butcher calves, a state known as Devar Nadu. Floods have occurred in that state within one year of conducting the beef festival," he said.

It was in June 2017, in protest against a central notification banning cattle trade and slaughter, many Kerala MLAs had held a beef festival in the assembly canteen.

Lavanya, Congress state spokesperson tells India Today TV, "BJP leaders should stop using religion to provoke and hurt people. Natural calamities have happened in BJP ruled states as well. It has no connection to peoples' food habits."

Likewise, Tanveer Ahmed JD(S) National Spokesperson says when people like the BJP MLA make no contributions to society, making controversial statements is the only way to keep them relevant. 'This statement of his is inhuman, uncalled for and PM Modi must take action against him,' he added.

This is not the first time, the BJP MLA is making controversial statements. While addressing a 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' function in his assembly constituency, he had said he would have ordered the police to shoot all intellectuals.

"These people (intellectuals) live in this county and use all the facilities for which we pay tax. Then they raise slogans against the Indian Army. Our country faces grave danger from intellectuals and seculars than anyone else. If I become the Home Minister, then I will order to shoot all of them," he had said to a crowd that gave him a loud cheer.

Yatnal has had a long association with the BJP and is said to be close to BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa. He was a minister of state for Textiles and Railways in the Vajpayee government between 2002 and 2004. Recently, he made another controversial statement when he told local BJP municipal members to not help Muslims.