Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, party national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said that whenever there is a celebratory atmosphere in the country, the Congress indulges in appeasement politics and disrespects the religious sentiments of Hindus.
Bhatia said that an atmosphere of happiness and celebration can be clearly seen in the entire country. But whenever there is an atmosphere of happiness and celebration in India, why does the opposition party like Congress only do appeasement politics? It also disrespects and insults the sentiments of Hindu followers and Sanatanis, who hold Hindutva in high regard. This has now become the character of the Congress Party. This is the DNA of the Congress Party.
Taking aim at Kharge, the BJP spokesperson described him as a 'remote-controlled president' and alleged that he is being controlled by former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, while Rahul Gandhi also has a role in the leadership of the party.
He alleged that whatever statement Mallikarjun Kharge makes should be seen as anti-Hindu and anti-Sanatan thinking of Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Kharge himself. Through their words and statements, they are carrying forward the same ideology.
Bhatia said the BJP did not expect Kharge to wish Hindus a happy Diwali, but questioned his choice of words when referring to the festival. He said that we all respect Lord Ram. Yet, Congress – or rather the 'Muslim party' – president Mallikarjun Kharge hesitates to utter the word 'Diwali' and instead calls it 'an Eid of happiness'.
Questioning the description of Diwali as 'Eid of happiness', Bhatia alleged that Kharge looked uncomfortable while referring to the Hindu festival.
He claimed that why does Kharge have so much trouble in saying the word 'Diwali'? Why does his tongue start stuttering while saying this word? Looking at his statement and expressions, it seemed as if he was about to cry, as if he was forced to say something on the holy occasion of Diwali, and that is why he said this strange thing. He named it 'Eid of Happiness'.
He asked why is it that when it comes to Diwali, you address it as 'Eid' while congratulating Hindus? Bhatia also alleged that the remarks had hurt the sentiments of a large number of Hindus. He accused Congress of trying to change the identity of Hindu festivals for political appeasement.
He asked whether changing the identity of Hindu festivals is the real character of the Congress Party, i.e. their DNA? Does Congress consider this as 'political etiquette'? You can go to any social media platform and see how crores of Hindus have been hurt by this statement of Kharge ji, a statement which smacks of communal appeasement.
Challenging Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Kharge, Bhatia said that if Congress leaders really believe in treating all religions equally, then they should apply the same logic to Eid and call it 'Diwali of happiness'.
He said that this proves that there is indeed a sense of equality in your (Kharge's) thinking and ideology. If according to Kharge ji, Diwali is 'Eid of happiness', then by the same logic Eid should be 'Diwali of happiness'. but it's not like that.
The BJP spokesperson also referred to the controversy surrounding an affidavit filed earlier by the Congress, in which he claimed that the party had described Lord Ram as 'only a fictional character'.
Referring to the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Bhatia said the temple has become a 'source of pride for Hindus as well as all Indians'. He also criticized the Gandhi family and raised questions as to why Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra never visited Ayodhya.