Kerala, August 27: Kerala has been devasted in the horrible floods that not only claimed several lives but displaced homes.  Even in this hour of crisis, parties are dragging politics, caste and creating a further rift, instead of uniting. Here comes another irrational and outrageous statement from a BJP minister which is adding to their woes.

According to an ANI report, Basangouda Patil Yatnal said that people in Kerala are suffering because they have hurt the Hindu sentiments. The minister has been quoted as saying, "Slaughtering cows against Hindu community's feelings. One shouldn't hurt other religions' feelings. See what happened to Kerala, they openly slaughtered cows&in less than 1 yr came to this stage. Whoever hurts Hindu community's feelings will be punished this way."

According to reports, the minister was referring to a beef festival that was held about a year ago by Kerala legislators in the state assembly canteen to protest against a central government order banning cattle killing and trade. This is not the first time he has made such an irrational statement, last month he said that if he were the home minister of Karnataka, he would have had intellectuals shot as they were "dangerous".

Just after the Karnataka elections, he was quoted as saying, "Hindus are the ones who ensured my win in the elections. I will work to develop the Hindu community, not the Muslims."

(With inputs from PTI)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 27, 2018 08:54 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).