BJP leader accuses Congress of ‘same mentality’ that decided its pact with Muslim League

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Congress of adopting the same mentality that led to its alliance with the Muslim League. Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad claimed that the Congress is compromising on national interests for vote-bank politics and supporting naxalism. Prasad pointed to the recent incident at the Congress headquarters on August 15, where Sonia Gandhi appeared to oppose reciting the entire 'Vande Mataram'.

He also noted that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had, in Goa, stated that only two stanzas were sung at a party event due to pressure from the Muslim League. Prasad argued that the Congress should stop its arrogance and stop claiming to be the sole custodian of India's freedom movement, as it entered into a pact with the Muslim League in 1936-37.

He highlighted that Dr Rajendra Prasad, who was a member of the Congress and later became the first President of India, declared 'Vande Mataram' as the National Song. Prasad also criticized the Congress' decision to pass the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act in 1971 during an Indira Gandhi-led Congress government. He accused Congress leaders of mocking the freedom movement and hating Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and strongly condemned the party for going beyond opposition to the BJP and attacking national symbols.