The BJP on Monday accused the Congress of indulging in “appeasement politics” and hurting the sentiments of Hindus after its president Mallikarjun Kharge described Diwali as an “Eid of happiness”.
Extending his Diwali greetings over the weekend, Kharge had told reporters that Diwali is a major festival celebrated by everyone in India and described it as ‘khushiyon ka Eid’.
Latching on to it, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that the Congress had made it a practice to disrespect Hindu religious traditions while attempting to appease the Muslim community.
Addressing a press conference here at the BJP headquarters, Bhatia said, “This is the DNA of the Congress party: Indulging in blatant appeasement of the Muslim class and hurting the sentiments of the Hindu community even during a festival that symbolises joy, happiness and inclusiveness.”
He said Kharge appeared reluctant to even acknowledge Diwali and alleged that his statement reflected the party’s “anti-Hindu and anti-Sanatan mindset”.
He also alleged that Kharge was acting under the influence of Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, claiming that his statements reflected their views. Bhatia also targeted Sonia Gandhi over her recent remarks that she had cried while watching the demolition of the Babri Masjid, calling it the “height of appeasement politics”.
Referring to the 2008 Batla House encounter, Bhatia questioned Sonia’s response to the death of police personnel and cited former Congress leader Salman Khurshid’s account that she had cried after being informed about the killing of two terrorists.
Bhatia accused the Congress of selectively raising concerns over pollution during Diwali while remaining silent on other occasions.
Referring to Eid-al-Adha, he said, “When our Muslim brothers and sisters celebrate Bakrid, goats are sacrificed. Blood flows into the water, causing water pollution. But not once has any Congress leader spoken about this.”
Earlier in the day, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said the Congress chose vote bank politics even on Diwali with the party president describing Diwali as an “Eid of Happiness”.
Another BJP spokesperson, Tuhin Sinha, said Muslims celebrate Eid only twice a year but the Congress party wants to celebrate every Hindu festival as “Khushiyon ki Eid.”
BJP MP Tarun Chugh also criticised Kharge, accusing the Congress of indulging in appeasement politics. Chugh said the remark has hurt the sentiments of crores of Sanatanis and alleged that the opposition party was hesitant to acknowledge the identity of Hindu festivals due to vote-bank politics.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) accused Kharge of mocking Hindu traditions by describing Diwali as “khushiyon ki Eid” and claimed Hindu festivals were a “matter of embarrassment” for the opposition party.
Congress leader Pawan Khera defended Kharge, saying those criticising the remark were “semantically ignorant” as the word ‘Eid’ literally means “festival”.
“Now go and listen to his statement again. It is perfectly normal, unlike the Sanghi negativity that makes some people incapable of sparing even a festival,” Khera said on social media.
“In the spirit of Diwali and for the love of God, please light a bulb or two in your brain as well, and spare the rest of us the public display of your stupidity,” he added. Khera ended his post by calling the critics “jahil” (illiterate or ignorant).