India’s opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded the removal of Karnataka Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy after he described Islam as greater than all other religions at an event in Kukunur, Koppal district. Rayareddy called Islam a great and humane religion, saying it is science-based and teaches people how to live. He said Islam was superior because it begins with humanity.

Rayareddy said people unfamiliar with Islam hold misconceptions and form mistaken opinions about it. Discussing the Quran, he said he had not extensively studied Abrahamic religions, although he reads about different religions and history. He also said he does not frequently visit temples or monasteries.

Karnataka BJP president R. Ashok alleged that Rayareddy had made disrespectful remarks about Hinduism and temples and monasteries. He asked Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar to ensure the minister withdraws his statements and apologizes to the Hindu community. Ashok said Rayareddy should be removed from the cabinet if he does not apologize. BJP spokesperson Ashok Gowda said no religion should be called superior without reading the scriptures of different faiths.