Naked communalism worse, Cong retorts
In a stinging counter-offensive to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi’s “burqa of secularism” barb at the Congress, the ruling party on Monday viewed that it was much better than “naked communalism”. But the BJP in its defence accused the Congress of evading “issues of public concern” and asked it to stop its “Modi-phobia”.
Further puncturing the development claims made by the BJP’s poll campaign chief, the Congress said Gujarat during Mr Modi’s tenure lagged behind on several socio-economic indicators.
“We will have to respond if the chairman of the campaign committee of the BJP resorts to a disinformation campaign and makes factually incorrect statements,” AICC general secretary Ajay Maken, who is also the chief of his party’s communications department, said a day after Mr Modi criticised the Congress and the Central government on various issues, including the state of the economy, development and corruption. “The burqa of secularism is much better than naked communalism. While communalism divides, secularism binds,” Mr Maken added. Mr Modi had on Sunday charged the Congress with wearing a “burqa of secularism” and “hiding in a bunker” each time it was confronted with a crisis.
Accusing Mr Modi of presenting “erroneous” and “false” figures, Mr Maken said a person who has “not been able to serve his own people properly” and “failed” in his own state has no business telling the whole country what to do.
Drawing parallels between the achievements in Gujarat during Mr Modi’s tenure and the NDA rule at the Centre, Mr Maken said the performance of the UPA was much better in all fields, including GDP growth, tourism and education. “I want to ask him what did he do in Gujarat that he keeps touring the whole country trying to give lessons to the youth,” the Congress leader said, adding that only a handful from Gujarat had won Olympic medals.
Information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari said the choice before the people was an inclusive India or an India that is sectarian. “The vision of the Congress party is pluralistic and inclusive. And the vision of the section of the Opposition has been sectarian, majoritarian and communal right from the beginning,” he said.
Speaking separately, Mr Tewari said, “The BJP stands in splendid isolation.
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