Anjaneya said the BJP was making a big deal about the Ayodhya temple, adding that “our Ram is everywhere”. “Our Ram is in our hearts. My name is Anjaneya. We all know what Anjaneya did,” he said, referring to the mythological figure. “We are devotees of Sri Ram,” he added.

Lashing out at the BJP, the Congress leader said the saffron party’s policy was to divide and rule people on the basis of religion. “They are under the illusion that people from other religions will vote for them if they attack one religion… We too are Hindus. They have not bought Hindus or the Hindu religion,” he said.

Referring to the prevalence of casteism, the Dalit leader said some people still lived in areas “not fit for even dogs to live”. “These people should be uplifted and houses should be built for them… Call these houses Ram Mandir. Then the real Ram will come and bless you… Don’t use Ram for votes,” he said.

The two-time MLA was social and backward classes minister in the first Siddaramaiah government. He lost the last two Assembly elections from the Scheduled Caste-reserved Holalkere constituency in Chitradurga district to the BJP’s M Chandrappa.

Reacting to Anjaneya’s remarks, BJP’s Karnataka unit said the Congress was humiliating Hindus.

“From questioning Prabhu Sri Ram’s existence to comparing him with leaders with questionable integrity. Congress once again humiliates Hindus. Hatred against Hindus is the DNA of Congress,” BJP Karnataka said in a post on X.