Chicago – September 12, 2025
The remark was made by Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, an MLA from Bijapur (Vijayapura), Karnataka.
He said that a campaign would be started offering ₹5 lakh to Hindu boys who marry Muslim girls.
The statement was made in Koppal, in the context of a recent murder case: a young Hindu man (Gavisiddappa Nayak) was allegedly killed in front of a mosque after being in a relationship with a Muslim woman.
The statement ties into the contentious debate around “love jihad,” a phrase used to allege that Muslim men target Hindu women for marrying/conversion purposes. It’s a politicized and highly sensitive issue in India.
Yatnal has a history of making provocative statements about religious identity, interfaith relationships, and criticisms of state policies said to favor minorities. Some of his statements have led to his suspension or expulsion from party positions.
Such statements, even if not turned into formal policy, can increase communal tensions, lead to fear among minority communities, and affect social harmony.
