BJP slams Kharge for calling Diwali khushiyon ki ek Eid
The Bharatiya Janata Party accused the Congress of appeasement after the Congress president referred to the festival as an Eid of joy.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday criticised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for describing Diwali as "khushiyon ki ek Eid" (festival of happiness). According to the Times of India, the BJP claimed the remark symbolised the opposition's politics of appeasement and disregard for Hindu sentiments.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia questioned whether Kharge and Rahul Gandhi would have the courage to call Eid a "Diwali of joy". Bhatia stated that Diwali is a symbol of India's ancient cultural heritage and that the Congress has always insulted Sanatan culture.
BJP national media co-incharge Pradeep Bhandari alleged that the Congress chose vote-bank politics and accused the party of having an anti-Sanatani and anti-Hindu policy. Another BJP spokesperson, Tuhin Sinha, claimed the Congress wants to celebrate every Hindu festival as "Khushiyon ki Eid".
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera defended Kharge, stating that those criticising the remark were "semantically ignorant" because the word 'Eid' literally means "festival".
Bhatia also noted that no member of the Gandhi family has visited the Ram temple in Ayodhya yet. He further referenced Sonia Gandhi's previous statement regarding the demolition of the Babri mosque in 1992.