Jaipur, June 15 (IANS) As former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot sparked a political row by saying that Indira Gandhi would have banned the BJP if she were alive today and accusing the party of promoting religious polarisation, the BJP in Rajasthan hit back strongly, calling his remarks anti-Hindutva.

Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ghanshyam Tiwari launched a scathing attack on Gehlot, alleging that he was speaking not as a Congress leader but as a spokesperson for the Muslim League.

Citing recent electoral trends, Tiwari claimed that the Congress’s politics had become increasingly driven by appeasement and vote-bank considerations.

Referring to the Congress’s alliance with the Muslim League in Kerala, he accused the party of aligning with an organisation that played a role in India’s Partition and asserted that such political compromises had weakened the Congress’s national character.

Tiwari said Gehlot should introspect on his party’s policies and electoral trajectory instead of making statements aimed at creating divisions in society.

He dismissed Gehlot’s recent remarks as reckless and politically motivated, alleging that they stemmed from frustration over electoral defeats and an attempt to maintain political relevance.

He said Congress leaders should learn from history, recalling that both the ban imposed on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1948 and the Emergency declared in 1975 were eventually withdrawn after widespread opposition.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters, Tiwari stated that the Congress’s support base has been steadily declining across the country.

He argued that the party initiated divisive Hindu-Muslim politics decades ago and laid the foundation for communal politics through agreements such as the 1916 Lucknow Pact with the Muslim League and its participation in the Khilafat Movement.

According to him, these policies ultimately contributed to the Partition of India.

Tiwari urged Ashok Gehlot to apologise to Hindus for his remarks.

BJP state general secretaries Shravan Singh Bagdi and Bhupendra Saini were also present at the press conference.

The Rajya Sabha MP further claimed that India remains the only country to have been partitioned on the basis of religion and alleged that the Congress’s support for the Muslim League played a significant role in that outcome.

He accused the party of continuing a policy of appeasement even after Independence.

Responding to the Congress’s criticism of the BJP over Hindutva, Tiwari asserted that while the Congress portrays Hindutva as a political issue, the BJP regards it as an ideological ideal.

Tiwari also alleged that Gehlot was speaking more like a representative of the Muslim League than a Congress leader.

Referring to recent election results, he claimed that the Congress’ electoral performance in several states reflected a narrowing support base.

He further criticised the Congress’s alliance with the Indian Union Muslim League in Kerala, arguing that the party’s continued association with the organisation contradicted its public positions on secularism and national unity.

Highlighting the Congress’s frequent references to the Constitution, Tiwari said the party should remember the Emergency and the 42nd Constitutional Amendment, which he described as major assaults on democratic institutions.

He credited subsequent constitutional amendments with restoring democratic safeguards and accused the Congress of attempting to create confusion among voters through vote-bank politics.

Taking a political swipe at the party leadership, Tiwari remarked that Rahul Gandhi’s leadership had coincided with repeated electoral setbacks for the Congress, adding that the BJP would welcome the continuation of that trend.

Concluding his remarks, Tiwari said the BJP works on the principles of national development and “Nation First”, without discrimination.

He highlighted several Central government welfare schemes, claiming that benefits had reached all sections of society, including minorities.

He cited participation figures under schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Mudra Yojana, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Skill India and minority scholarship programmes as evidence of the government’s inclusive approach.

Tiwari reiterated that the BJP remains committed to the guiding principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas”.

–IANS

arc/pgh