Stirring a controversy, BJP leader and Chhattisgarh minister Brijmohan Agrawal has said his party workers are capable of "breaking jaws of anti-national elements" who raise slogans against the country and demanded that those who are born in India chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'.
"Even after 69 years of independence, anti-India slogans are being raised in the country. If anyone raises anti-country slogans in front of our workers, they (BJP workers) should reply them with full power," the Agriculture and Water Resources Minister purportedly said at a function, marking the BJP's 36th Foundation Year at the party office here yesterday.
In a purported video clipping of the event, Agrawal said those who are born in India and consume the country's food and water should chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'.
In an apparent reference to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi over his visit to JNU in the wake of a row, he said, "It is unfortunate for the country that a leader of a big political party supported them. It is needed to tell those who raise anti-national slogans (that) we are capable of breaking their jaws."
"It is needed to tell them, if they have taken birth in Hindustan, eat and drink Hindustan's food and after death cremated in this land only, then they have to chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai (sic)," Agrawal said.
The minister said that no religion or religious book prevents anyone from worshipping the land or country "where you take birth, have its food and water".
When contacted by PTI today, he said, "I had said while addressing the party's 36th foundation year ceremony that if someone raises anti-national slogans, we are capable of breaking their jaws.
"No religion or any religious book (like) Quran, Bible, Geeta and Ramayan prevents anyone from worshipping one's own country".
The function was also attended by the BJP state unit president Dharamlal Kaushik and MP Ramesh Bais.
Slamming the minister, state unit Congress general secretary Shailesh Nitin Trivedi said, "BJP leaders are deliberately distorting peace and harmony in the country. Minister Agrawal's statement is provocative.
