Mumbai, Aug 19 (PTI) Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Wednesday accused the BJP of trying to create a Hindu-Muslim divide by raking up ‘Vande Mataram’ issue, alleging that the ruling party did not have any substantive points to talk about.
Speaking at a function of the minority department of the state Congress, Sapkal said the political atmosphere in the country had changed and people were now questioning the BJP-led government.
“The BJP government has nothing to tell the people, and is therefore conspiring to revive the Hindu-Muslim divide. Do not fall prey to the controversy being created over Vande Mataram,” he said.
Sapkal said Congress did not believe in politics of revenge, and asserted that “mohabbat ki dukaan” (shop of love) remained the party’s path.
He said Vande Mataram was given the status of national song during the Congress-led freedom movement and decisions on the number of stanzas to be sung were taken under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Subhas Chandra Bose.
“Those who did not participate in the freedom struggle need not teach Congress patriotism,” Sapkal said, alleging that the BJP was trying to create social divisions for political gains by reviving the Vande Mataram controversy.
Congress’ minority department chairman and Rajya Sabha member Imran Pratapgarhi alleged that the BJP government was also trying to obstruct the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme to be addressed by Rahul Gandhi in Pune on August 22.
He claimed that prohibitory orders had been imposed in Pune to create hurdles for the programme.
“The BJP government should not make the mistake of trying to stop Rahul Gandhi. No force can stop him,” Pratapgarhi said, urging the cadre to make the Pune programme a success.
The Rajya Sabha MP claimed that the country had been facing a major crisis for the past 12 years but the political atmosphere was now changing. He alleged that students protesting against the government had faced police action, but continued with their demands.
He said Rahul Gandhi was standing firmly with students and had launched the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ campaign to raise their concerns.
Referring to the Vande Mataram controversy, Pratapgarhi said those who had supported the British should not lecture Congress on patriotism. He said several Congress leaders, including Nehru, had spent years in jail during the freedom struggle.
“Our fight is against fascist forces and only Congress can stop the BJP,” he said, claiming that the countdown for the BJP government had begun.
Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar alleged that the BJP government had been “looting the country” for the last 12 years and was trying to weaken democracy and change the Constitution.
He said Rahul Gandhi had prevented the BJP and RSS from succeeding in their alleged plans.
“Rahul Gandhi is the only leader who can take on the BJP firmly. There is no alternative but to make him the prime minister in 2029 to save the country,” Wadettiwar said.
The event marked the formal assumption of office by MLA Khan Pathan as president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee’s minority department.
Congress leaders Nitin Raut, Aslam Shaikh, Amin Patel, Shirish Naik, former minister Anis Ahmed, former MLA M M Sheikh and Wajahat Mirza were among those present. PTI MR NP
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