New Delhi, May 24 (IANS) BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Sunday accused the Trinamool Congress of oppressing Hindus in West Bengal while the party was in power in the state. Moreover, he alleged that the Congress has become a “party of abuses”.

Speaking to IANS regarding the FIR registered against Uttar Pradesh Congress Chief Ajay Rai, Poonawalla said: “Congress has become a party of abuses instead of Gandhian values.”

Referring to the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s “traitor” remark, the BJP spokesperson added: “Rahul Gandhi recently used offensive language against the Prime Minister, after which his close associate Ajay Rai allegedly used abusive language against the Prime Minister Modi. Later, he (Rai) claimed that it was due to AI or some other reason. If you look at his old record, it is full of abusive remarks. It is being said that Congress has used more than 150 offensive words against the Prime Minister because he comes from the OBC community and poor background, and that is why he is being targeted.”

Reacting to the West Bengal government’s decision to revise the Bakrid holiday in the state, Poonawalla said: “For a long time, the Trinamool Congress government did injustice to Hindus in order to appease the Muslim vote bank. Section 144 was imposed during Hindu festivals, processions were not allowed, and holidays were cancelled.”

The BJP spokesperson claimed that the Trinamool used to declare several days of holidays for festivals of the Muslim community.

“Now, the BJP government has completely ended the politics of appeasement. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari-led Bengal government is taking action against infiltrators,” he added.

Underlining that ‘Vande Mataram’ has been made compulsory in madrasas and schools in West Bengal, Poonawalla said: “Today, Hindus in West Bengal have the same rights as other communities. BJP works for everyone and ensures justice for all.”

On rumoured tensions between the Samajwadi Party and Congress, the BJP leader said: “The rift between the Samajwadi Party and Congress has once again deepened. (Samajwadi Party Chief) Akhilesh Yadav indicated that Congress would not get much space in the INDIA bloc alliance. Reacting sharply, Congress leader Imran Masood said that Rahul Gandhi is the real leader, indirectly challenging Akhilesh Yadav’s stand.”

“Earlier, Akhilesh Yadav had said that the Samajwadi Party would contest all 403 seats and that their focus was not just on contesting seats but on winning them.”

He claimed that the INDIA bloc alliance has no clear goal or vision.

“The INDIA bloc alliance is driven by commission, corruption, ambition, and division for positions. Congress has betrayed DMK, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena-UBT, RJD, and JMM, which is why Akhilesh Yadav has become cautious,” Poonawalla said.

–IANS

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