Union Minister Giriraj Singh calls Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband a 'temple of terrorism', sparks row

Giriraj Singh has come under attack from Islamic scholars for his controversial remarks on Deoband.

NEW DELHI: Union Minister and senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh has triggered a fresh row by calling the leading Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband a ''temple of terrorism". 

''Earlier, Deoband’s name was Deovrant. I do not know what it is about this place that it produces people similar to Baghdadi (Islamic State founder) and Hafiz Saeed (Mumbai terror nattack mastermind and JuD chief). This place is not a seat of learning. It is a hub of terrorism,” the minister said on Wednesday.

The leading Islamic seminary is located in the Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh.  

The veteran Bihar BJP politician had come to Devikund to meet Seer Swami Brhmananand Saraswati at his ashram.

The minister made these remarks after visiting a 'gurukul' (Vedic school) in the town.

Singh stated that the children, who received education at such (gurukul) institutions, never thought of violence and ''served'' the humanity after graduating from those great institutions.

The BJP Nawada MP also urged the Muslims to ''cooperate'' in the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya and said that they should not create obstacles in the way of noble cause.

Singh's remarks evoked a sharp response from Muslim clerics and Opposition parties. 

Demanding action against Singh, Muslim scholar Matin Khan said that only an ''insane'' person could speak in such a way about the leading Islamic seminary.

Khan, while claiming that Deoband had played a crucial role in the freedom of the country, also condemned Singh and said he did not deserve to be a Union Minister.

The Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party too said Singh be immediately sacked for making such controversial remarks.