Hyderabad, May 12 -- A temple in Karnataka, which was in the news for Islamophobic remarks made by BJP MLA Harish Poonja, issued a statement on Monday, May 12, expressing regret.

"The management committee of the temple regrets these words. Along with this, the committee welcomes the cooperation of your community. In the future, too, we hope that all communities live by cooperating with each other," read a statement from the authorities of the Gopalakrishna Temple in Thekkar village of Dakshina Kannada.

On May 3, a video of Poonja went viral on social media platforms, where he accused Muslims of breaking tubelights and stealing diesel during the Brahmakalashotsava(consecration ceremony).

He questioned the Thekkar villagers why invitatio...