BJP expels Rajasthan leader after remarks on mosques, gurdwaras kick up a row

In a letter issued on Sunday to Dayma and signed by Onkar Singh Lakhawat, the president of the state disciplinary committee of the BJP, the party said that Dayma has been expelled from the primary membership of the BJP for speaking against the ideology of the party.

Dayma made the remarks at an election rally in support of party candidate Balak Nath, in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Balak Nath is seen as close to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

In the speech, Dayma had said: “Kis tarah se itni masjiden, kis tarah se gurdware yahan par banakar chhodh diye! Ye aage chalkar hamare liye nasoor ban jayega. Isiliye hamara sabka dharam bhi banta hai ki is nasoor ko yahan se ukhad kar faink denge, aur Baba Balak Nathji ko bhari maton se jeetayenge (See how many mosques, gurdwaras have been built here! This will become an ulcer for us in the future. That is why it’s our duty that this ulcer be uprooted and thrown out, and Baba Balak Nathji win by a huge majority).”

Later, after protests by the Sikh community, Dayma had issued a video apologising to the Sikh community and visited a Gurdwara and provided service as a mark of atonement. The Election Commission had also issued a notice to Dayma over his remarks.

On Thursday, while tendering an apology for his remarks, Dayma said in a video, “In place of masjid-madrasa, I mistakenly ended up using some wrong words about the Gurdwara Saheb. I seek apology with folded hands from the entire Sikh community, which has always protected Hinduism and Sanatan Dharma. I don’t know how I committed the mistake. I will repent for this mistake by going to a gurdwara, I apologise to the entire Sikh community with folded hands. Sat Sri Akal!”Despite Dayma’s apology, the BJP expelled Dayma on Sunday after some of its own senior leaders objected to his presence in the party.

Senior BJP leader and former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh had on Saturday sought strict action against Dayma. Amarinder Singh said Dayma should not only be expelled from the party but legal action should also be taken against him for his remarks.

Earlier, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee took note of the matter, and shared the video issued by Dayma on X, and stated that the BJP leader had compounded his mistake with his apology.

“BJP leader Sandeep Dayma… says, ‘I wanted to say Masjid-Madrasa, but somehow said Gurdwara’. He should be ashamed of this statement too, as speaking against religious places of Muslims is equally condemnable as Gurdwaras.”