On November 1, 2023, then BJP leader Sandeep Dayma made an openly hate-filled speech during an election rally in Tijara, Rajasthan, calling for the demolition of mosques and gurdwaras across India. Speaking in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath—himself known for his hardline anti-Muslim positions—Dayma declared that the BJP would not allow any new mosque or gurdwara to be built and vowed to uproot the existing ones. 

Pointing to the presence of these religious structures, he described them as “ulcers” that needed to be removed and thrown out, urging the crowd to ensure a landslide win for Baba Balak Nath, the party’s candidate. Yogi Adityanath applauded Dayma’s speech as he made these inflammatory remarks.

In the days following, Dayma issued a half-hearted apology after facing backlash from Sikh groups and BJP leaders in Punjab, including Amarinder Singh. He claimed he had meant to say “mosques and madrasas,” not gurdwaras, but refused to retract his statements targeting Muslims. He reiterated his demand for the demolition of Muslim places of worship and schools, aligning himself to turn India into a Hindu Rashtra. In this nation, only Hindus have the right to live. Dayma’s hate speech ultimately led to his expulsion from the BJP on the orders of the party’s Rajasthan unit president.