The home minister in the Indian state of Gujarat has proudly informed the state legislators that the BJP government has demolished 108 mazars (Muslim shrines) during a campaign against the encroachments.

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Wednesday informed the state assembly that the Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel-led government has demolished 108 mazars in the crackdown on encroachments that have come up as “part of a conspiracy”. Sanghavi also reassured the public that the BJP government is vigilant in protecting temples from any malicious intent.

Referring to an earlier speech by a BJP MLA from Ellisbridge, Sanghavi said, “Today, the point mentioned by Amitbhai… He said that a derasar was removed in Jamalpur. Now, Dada’s (Bhupendra Patel) bulldozer is moving around in every nook and corner of the state so that no temple or devsthan can be removed while hatching a conspiracy. Nobody knows where will it (bulldozer) go.”

Sanghavi was speaking in the assembly while seeking the House approval for budgetary allocation for the Gujarat home department.

He raised questions regarding the sudden appearance of multiple mazars within the Uparkot Fort premises in Junagadh, which was recently redeveloped.

“In Uparkot, it was not known where (and when) all mazars were built. How can it be built suddenly?”

Sanghavi added, “In all, 108 mazars have been demolished (in the state) and the state’s properties have been opened… The encroachment around Somnath has been removed. This bulldozer of Dada can enter a 20-ft wide street and an 80-m wide road.”–Hindustan Times