Rajnath Singh, Dharmendra Pradhan seek INDIA bloc leaders' views on 'Sanatana Dharma' remark

Senior NDA ministers slammed INDIA coalition partners on Monday for their "silence" on the remarks made by DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin against 'Sanatana Dharma', alleging this was a sign of their support to the statement. BJP, which leads the NDA, also demanded that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee and AAP head Arvind Kejriwal express their views on the issue.

Stalin had said that 'Sanatana Dharma' divides people in the name of caste and religion and hence should be eradicated.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh questioned the silence of Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Ashok Gehlot and said INDIA bloc members should apologise for the insult to 'Sanatana Dharma'. "I want to ask Ashok Gehlot why he does not speak, why Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Kharge do not say what is their thinking," Singh said.


Addressing a rally in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer, Singh said: "In a country where successful launching and landing of Mangalyaan and Chandrayaan is taking place, Congress' 'Rahulyaan' has neither been able to launch nor land since the last 20 years."

In a press interaction, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan alleged Congress has always engaged in a politics of appeasement and polarisation. "In 2012, they coined the term 'saffron terror' as by then Congress had realised the ground beneath their feet was slipping. On foreign soil it was said by their leaders that Hindutva should be dismantled. Dynasty politics leaders are actually running a 'nafrat ki dukaan' (an enterprise of hatred), not affection," he said.

Pradhan underlined that BJP stands for harmony between all religions and sects while Congress and INDIA parties are insulting Indian tradition in the name of freedom of expression. Pradhan said INDIA grouping could not choose its leader at its meeting in Mumbai but has decided its policy: That of disrespecting Indian civilisation. The DMK minister's remarks were deliberate, he said. "It is surprising that Rahul Gandhi is quiet on this issue," Pradhan said. He also demanded that NCP leader Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, among others, should speak out.