AHMEDABAD: Keeping alive the debate on patriotism and chanting of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', ruling BJP in Gujarat today dubbed Congress as a party with "anti-national mindset" and asked people to teach it a "strong lesson".
In a political resolution passed at its State Executive Committee meet held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat BJP questioned the stand taken by Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on the issue of alleged anti-India slogans raised in JNU campus in February, which triggered a nationwide debate on nationalism.
"Sometime back, slogans were raised in JNU in favour of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. They even chanted 'Hindustan Murdabad'. At that time, Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders visited the campus in support of such people. What message these leaders wanted to give to the country?" the resolution asked.
On the issue of ongoing controversy surrounding the chanting of `Bharat Mata Ki Jai', the resolution alleged Congress is trying to divide people and play vote-bank politics by opposing patriotic slogans by putting them in the purview of freedom of expression.
"BJP firmly believes that patriotism can not be a matter of choice. By opposing slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and Vande Mataram, Congress is hurting the sentiments of Indians. This committee condemns such vote-bank politics and anti-national mindset of Congress," it stated.
"This executive committee, hereby, resolves to fight those who are nurturing and supporting anti-national elements. We request the people to once again teach a strong lesson to these elements to save India's unity and sovereignty."
Gujarat BJP also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "bringing together all Indians living across the world through his foreign trips and building a positive atmosphere in favour of the country."