Koppal (Karnataka), May 25: Karnataka Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi on Saturday said if the BJP wins the Lok Sabha elections again then Prime Minister Narendra Modi will build his own temples in every village.

Tangadagi, who holds the Backward Class Development and Kannada and Culture portfolio, said the statements of the prime minister is such that he would get his temples constructed in every village of the country.

The minister's remark came in the backdrop of PM Modi's interview to a national TV channel where he reportedly said, "Until my mother was alive, I used to think I was born biologically. After her demise, when I look at my experiences, I am convinced that I was sent by God. This strength is not from my body. It has been given to me by God. That's why God also gave me the ability, strength, pure-heartedness, and inspiration to do this. I'm nothing but an instrument that God has sent."

Tangadagi also took a swipe at BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra's statement that Lord Jagannath is PM Modi's devotee.

"In case Prime Minister Narendra Modi wins this time, a situation will emerge to build his temples everywhere. Ram temple has happened and others are also being constructed. 'Now (he will say) my own temple should be built' because his statements are like that," Tangadagi told reporters at Karatagi in this district.

"Modi's mind has reached to an extent where he says if people give him a chance this time, he will say that his temple should be built in every village," the minister said, and added that public representatives are public servants and they are not God.

Ridiculing Patra's statement, Tangadagi said, "They (BJP leaders) say that Puri Jagannath is Modi's devotee. If God is his devotee, then (you can guess) where has the BJP people's mindset reached."

Calling his statement a slip of tongue, Patra, the BJP's candidate from Jagannath Puri in Odisha, had apologised to the people and did penance for three days.

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New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.

The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.

In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.

"The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.

It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.

The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.

The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.

The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.

The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.

A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.