BJP Rohtak MP Arvind Sharma from Rohtak, on Saturday, stoked a row by issuing ‘a vile threat to the Congress - that he would "gouge out the eyes and cut off the arms" of anyone who opposed party colleague Manish Grover, according to NDTV. Grover was on Friday, gheraoed by angry farmers inside a temple in Kiloi village in the Rohtak district.

Resorting to abject theatrics at a public event, Sharma’s condemnable statement was applauded by the audience. He added the Congress would "run in circles for 25 years" while the BJP - in power after stitching together an alliance with Dushyant Chautala's JJP following the 2019 election - ruled.

The farmers were outraged by Grover's comments that they were "jobless alcoholics" and "bad elements" bent on prolonging the protests against the contentitious farm laws. Grover and others were kept as hostages inside the temple for nearly eight hours, after which he was seen outside with folded hands. It was only after this that those held hostage were allowed to leave.

Grover refused to apologise and claimed he had been asked to "wave at everyone". "We have not apologised... I will come whenever I want to this temple," he said. Others stuck inside the temple were minister Ravindra Raju, Rohtak MP Manmohan Goyal and BJP leader Satish Nandal.

The farmers had urged the crowd to surround the temple from all sides.