Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel targeted the BJP and the RSS for their definition of ‘nationalism’, claiming that their concept of nationalism is completely opposite to Mahatma Gandhi’s nationalism.
He was addressing concluding function of Gandhi Vichar Yatra, the week-long foot-march which culminated into a public meeting at Gandhi Maidan here on Thursday afternoon.
“On contrary to today’s nationalism, the nationalism of Gandhiji was different”, he said.
"Mahatma Gandhi's nationalism was to respect even those who disagree, but the nationalism of the BJP and the RSS is to troll you and destroy you if you do not agree with them," the chief minister said.
“Inciting nationalism of today is far different from the nationalism propagated by Gandhiji. Now they distribute certificate on nationalism for asking a question,” he said without naming anyone.
Stressing on the need for unity among different communities and societies in the country, he said “along with Gandhian ideology, intermingling of communalism and dictatorship should also have to be gauged”.
Apart from ultra-nationalism and hyper- patriotism, Baghel also came down heavily on BJP and RSS for defining Hinduism in a narrow perspective. Congress was never against religion and Hindus, he said.
The politics in our country is “integral to religion” and existence of Lord Rama was everywhere, he said.
Hitting out at forces spreading communal hatred and bigotries, Baghel further charged that communal forces have gained the power and they must well be identified and unmasked.