Gujarat polls: PM Narendra Modi playing politics of religion, says Congress

The Congress on Wednesday slammed Modi for playing up a religious issue just days ahead of the Gujarat assembly polls.

Congress flag. (File photo)

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday slammed Modi for playing up a religious issue just days ahead of the Gujarat assembly polls.

“Modiji is rattled over the prospect of losing Gujarat. Therefore, he is defaming God and trying to get votes by politicising a religious issue,” Congress communication department head Randeep Surjewala said in Ahmedabad.

The Congress, Surjewala said, had clarified its stand that it was in favour of the Supreme Court deciding the Ram Janmabhoomi row. He also flagged corruption worth crores in the running of Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation, blaming the ruling BJP and Modi.

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal, who was attacked by Modi over his controversial remark in SC related to the Ayodhya issue, also slammed the PM. “The Ram temple won’t be built on Modi’s instructions and he should first fulfill the promises he made to the people.” he said.

Party vice president Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, took a dig at the PM politely. After Modi attacked Sibal, Rahul, referring to an earlier tweet of his where he attacked the BJP in Gujarat over high prices of essential items, tweeted: “For all my BJP friends: unlike Narendrabhai, I am human. We do make the odd mistake and that’s what makes life interesting. Thanks for pointing it out and please do keep it coming, it really helps me improve. Love you all.”

Rahul had asked Modi to explain the poor healthcare facilities in the state where the BJP has been in power for 22 years and Modi was the chief minister for three terms.
Responding to the PM’s attack that the Congress neglected Gujarati icon Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, party veteran Anand Sharma said there was no difference between India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Patel.

“It is sad that India has a PM who is boastful, arrogant and is in perpetual conflict with history, facts and ground realities. He has habitually insulted and misrepresented history, distorted facts and manufactured numbers,” Sharma tweeted.