‘Chola, Pallava Kings Also Desecrated Temples’: Owaisi Questions BJP, Hits Back At Yogi’s Remar

Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday targeted Bharatiya Janata Party asking if there will be a move made on Hindu kings who desecrated temples and Buddhist sacred sites. 

Speaking at the 67th revival anniversary of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, the party chief also slammed Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath on his recent remark on Urdu language.

The AIMIM chief also hit at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led central government over the Waqf bill, alleging that through the bill, “based on hatred for Muslims”, the Modi government wants to snatch the properties of the minorities.

ALSO READ | Telangana Tunnel Collapse: Breakthrough In Rescue Ops, Four Trapped Workers Located, Says Minister

‘Pallava, Chola Kings Desecrated Temples’ 

Speaking against the backdrop of the movie ‘Chhaava’ which revolves around the Maratha-Mughal war involving Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Owaisi asked will anyone make a movie on Hindu kings who desecrated temples and sacred sites of Buddhists.

“They say everywhere in media that a temple was demolished 400 years ago…Richard M. Eaton (American historian) writes in his book ‘Temple Desecration…’ that 80 temples were destroyed from the 11th century until 1600 – during Muslim rule. Pushyamitra Shunga demolished thousands of Buddhist places of worship…Pallava emperor Narasimhavarman stole a Ganesh idol in 1640 AD in Chalukya capital of Vatapi,” Owaisi said. 

“Hiuen Tsang wrote that Shashanka cut down a Bodhi tree…In the 10th century, King Indra demolished the Kalapriya temple…They ask me to speak up, what do I have to do with the Mughals?… They were emperors. Emperors have no religion, they use religion to expand their rule…,” said the Hyderabad MP.  

“If Narendra Modi and BJP have so much affinity for Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, then provide reservation for Marathas. Why do you not do that?” he challenged.

ALSO READ | Reverting To Ballot Paper ‘Out Of Scope’ For Parliamentary Panel On ‘One Nation, One Election’: Law Ministry

‘Urdu Part Of Uttar Pradesh’s Culture’ 

Owaisi slammed UP CM Yogi Adityanath saying the latter does not know that Urdu is part of Uttar Pradesh’s culture. Responding to a demand by the Samajwadi Party last month to translate House proceedings in Urdu, Adityanath said the SP leaders send their own children to English medium schools but want others’ children to learn Urdu and become “maulvis”.

Hitting back at Adityanath, Owaisi said, “..UP CM doesn’t even know that Urdu is a part of Uttar Pradesh’s culture. People of RSS and BJP don’t know that Urdu is protected by the Constitution, just like other languages.” 

“They don’t know that every Muslim doesn’t speak Urdu, this is not the language of Muslims. This has been the language of this country’s freedom. This is the language of this country…BJP wants to build this country as per one language, one religion, one ideology and one leader…,” he added.