Mangaluru: Ansar Ahmed, president of district unit of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, said on Thursday that the Union Minister of State for Skill Development, Anantkumar Hegde, should apologise for his statement that mosques were collecting “Zakat” and using it to purchase arms and bombs.

He was speaking at a dharna organised to protest against Mr. Hegde’s statement near the War Memorial, here.

Mr. Ahmed said that by making such a baseless statement, Mr. Ahmed had insulted the Muslims. If Mr. Hegde did not withdraw his statement, an agitation would be launched against him. Mr. Hegde had no knowledge of Islam.

Hence, he had made such a wrong statement. If necessary, the Muslims would explain to him about their religion, he said. Mr. Hegde was now making derogatory statements about the religion and that day was not far when he might question the basis of religion.