Congress trying to polarise country on communal lines: BJP

NEW DELHI: BJP today charged Congress with trying to polarise the country on communal lines in a bid to divert attention from its failures and insisted that it will ensure that the next Lok Sabha elections are held on issues that concern people.

"Congress wants to divide the attention of the country. While Congress leadership tells its cadre to exercise restraint the opposite happens. The party wants to communalise and divide the polity. It is indulging in communal polarisation," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.

He said Congress leaders say something controversial and then the party distances itself from those remarks.

Congress General Secretary Shakeel Ahmed had created a controversy by tweeting that Indian Mujahideen was formed as a reaction to the 2002 post-Godhra riots in Gujarat. Congress had later said this was not the official view of the party.

" Rahul Gandhi held his classes for the party leaders but they have understood nothing from his teachings. They are making mincemeat of his advice. He had reportedly advised them to speak in one voice," Hussain said.

The main Opposition also claimed that Congress is even defending terrorists for vote-bank politics.

"Congress wants to collect votes even in the name of terrorists. Its leaders are engaged in eulogising terrorists... The investigating agencies are apprehensive about whether they should carry on the probe on take the Congress line," Hussain said.

He said Congress will have to bear the consequences of these acts.

"Congress leaders are feeling insecure. We would like to assure the people that the elections will be held on the issues facing the country. Congress is trying to deflect attention from them," he said.