New Delhi: Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comment over Congress's Karnataka manifesto alleging that the grand old party wanted to lock Lord Hanuman or Bajrangbali, Congress on Tuesday demanded that Modi should apologise for his remark.
“How can you belittle our faith and that of people who are devotees of Lord Hanuman? How can you even compare Bajrang Dal with Lord Hanuman? The PM should be ashamed of making such a comment. The PM should apologise for his remarks. He has hurt my faith. How can you compare Bajrang Dal with my deity,” Congress media head Pawan Khera said as he pulled out a small prayer book carrying Lord Hanuman’s picture from his shirt pocket.
Khera was responding to the PM’s comment also said, "Our Lord protects us and even from you, Mr Modi." At a rally in Karnataka's Hospet, Modi earlier said, "At a time when I have come to pay my respects in Lord Hanuman's land, the Congress in its manifesto has decided to lock up Bajrangbali."
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The PM’s comment came hours after the Congress poll manifesto for the May 10 Karnataka assembly polls mentioned that the grand old party was committed to taking firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations spreading hatred amongst communities on grounds of caste or religion.
“We believe that law and Constitution is sacrosanct and cannot be violated by individuals and organisations like Bajrang Dal, PFI or others promoting enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities," the manifesto read. Khera further said if the PM wanted to know about Bajrang Dal, he should ask minister Jyotiraditya Scindia who had said in 2017 that the group had links with Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI.
“The PM is comparing Bajrang Dal with Bajrangi (Lord Hanuman). We will not tolerate such contempt. It is a matter of our faith. There is a limit to which you can belittle my faith and millions who have faith in Bajrangi,” he said.
Quoting a few lines from the prayer book, Khera said that better sense should prevail with the PM. When asked if the party would go to court over the PM’s remark, Khera said, “This country does politics of issues and does not indulge in such pettiness. The matter is in the court of the people who will give them an answer on May 13.”
Reacting to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s comment that even Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah would not have dared a move like banning Bajrang Dal and that the Congress had made a big blunder on Tuesday considered to be the day of Lord Hanuman, the Congress leader said that “Sarma should also apologise for making such a remark” and that “such comments were not even worthy of a response.”
When asked if the grand old party would explore a similar ban on PFI and Bajrang Dal in Congress ruled Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh, Khera said the point in the Karnataka manifesto had come after public consultations. “When consultations for poll manifestos in the other states will start, we will see,” said Khera.
