New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi disapproves of the Madhya Pradesh government’s decision to invoke the National Security Act (NSA) against three persons accused of cow slaughter in Khandwa, former Union Finance Minister and senior party leader P. Chidambaram said Friday.
“The use of NSA in Madhya Pradesh was wrong and has been pointed out to the government. The Congress president has told the person concerned that it was wrong,” said Chidambaram at the launch of his book Undaunted – Saving the Idea of India in New Delhi.
However, Chidambaram defended Punjab’s Amarinder Singh government for bringing in a law on blasphemy, since it “talks about all holy books, not a particular book”. There is nothing wrong in anything that Amarinder has done, Chidambaram insisted.
Sabarimala a matter of custom, Ram Mandir faith
Asked about the Congress’ stand on the Sabarimala issue, Chidambaram maintained that in his personal view, he supports the Supreme Court’s order which paved the way for women of menstruating age to enter the temple. But he admitted that the Kerala unit had a different stand, and that needed to be respected.
“I support the SC judgement personally, but if scores of Kerala workers feel otherwise, what right do I have to tell them that they are wrong? How can I tell my party workers that no other view is acceptable?” he said.
However, when asked if this was the same argument given by the BJP on the Ram Temple issue, he said: “Ayodhya is not an issue of custom but faith. In Sabarimala, it’s a case of custom.”
Also read: Rahul’s remarks won’t affect Kerala Congress outreach to Sabarimala devotees, says party
Congress has been painted as an anti-Hindu party
Claiming that secularism is in danger today, Chidambaram said the Congress party has been painted as an anti-Hindu party, which is not the case.
“We remain one of the most secular parties. You go to any Congress gathering or meeting and 80-85 per cent (of those attending it) are Hindu,” he said.
“If you take any committee of the Congress, you’ll see India represented there. Secularism is being drowned in the cacophony of the extreme Right.”
His book, a collection of essays, points to the atmosphere of fear that exists in the country in the current situation.
The book launch was also attended by the Congress’ recently-appointed general secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and her husband Robert Vadra.
Also read: Congress spokespersons told to stay away from ‘anti-Hindu’ debates on TV
The Congress returns to power in MP and Chhattisgarh after a break of fifteen years. Although the result was unexpectedly close in one state, a sweep in the other, a lot of moss must have accumulated under the rocks over fifteen years. It is for the two CMs to provide demonstrably superior governance, rebuild the party organisation in their states and also the party’s image and brand in the rest of the country. In adjoining states like UP and Bihar, where the Congress is trying to resurrect itself from near oblivion, it would help to have models of well administered states to showcase. This poor man’s Hindutva is not expected from the Congress.