A shocking video of a Karnataka cleric's controversial remarks about cow slaughter on Bakrid has surfaced. In the speech, the cleric can be heard saying that cows will be sacrificed during Bakrid festival in Karnataka where cow slaughter is banned. Health and Family Welfare Minister Shivanand Patil was also present during the public sermon. 

Lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar came out against the ptovocations and said that even though India is a secular country, the communalism by minorities must not be tolerated. Calling cleric Tanveer Hashim “irresponsible and outrageous”, he said that immediate arrest should be made in the case. “Secularism doesn’t mean ignoring or tolerating minority communalism. This irresponsible and outrageous cleric Tanveer Hashim should immediately be arrested for trying to create communal tension in Bengaluru,” he said in his tweet. 

“The minister is here. Let him do what he can. Bakri Eid is in another two months. The devil will try to interfere in cow slaughter, let's hope that there is no other sacrifice along with the cow,” cleric Hashim was quoted as saying by PTI on the occasion of Ramzan prayer at Vijayapura in north Karnataka three days ago.

The highly communal speech received severe backlash as several Hindu-right-wing activists took to social media to denounce his remarks. Netizens expressed anger on social media calling the remarks “provocative” and made with a possible intention to encourage communal disharmony, as per a report by PTI.

Hashmi is the head of Hashim Pir Dargah at Vijayapura, which happens to be a popular Muslim shrine. The video of his controversial comments went viral on social media.