New Delhi, July 2 (NationPress) The political landscape heated up due to remarks made by senior Congress figure Digvijaya Singh and Samajwadi Party's ST Hasan regarding the annual Kanwar Yatra, leading to a strong rebuttal from the BJP.

BJP MP and national spokesperson Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi criticized both leaders for promoting an anti-Hindu narrative and attempting to tarnish a revered spiritual practice.

According to Trivedi, the comments made by Singh and Hasan are indicative of an ideological stance that has consistently opposed Hindu traditions. He pointed out that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s involvement in international forums like ‘Dismantling Global Hindutva’ and events aimed at “eradicating Sanatan Dharma” in Chennai aligns with this mindset.

“Digvijaya Singh views Zakir Naik as a ‘messenger of peace,’ refers to Osama bin Laden as ‘Osama ji,’ and calls Hafiz Saeed ‘Hafiz Sahab’. However, when it pertains to the Kanwar Yatra, he suddenly perceives communalism,” Trivedi stated.

He also challenged ST Hasan’s connections with groups that supposedly conceal their identities. “Why does he associate with individuals who hide their names and religious affiliations?” Trivedi questioned.

Continuing his critique, the BJP representative remarked that the Congress is so engulfed in anti-Modi sentiment that its leaders have lost the ability to discern between fact and falsehood. “This is the consequence of being ensnared by a warped ‘Modi-Virodhi’ perspective,” he commented, noting that this obsession results in a poor grasp of fundamental truths.

Veteran Congress member Digvijaya Singh previously expressed that while there is no objection to state governments facilitating the Yatra, issues arise when such religious events are allegedly utilized to propagate hatred. “In a civilized society, promoting hatred is indefensible,” he remarked.

Former MP ST Hasan also claimed that during the Kanwar Yatra in Uttarakhand, some Hindu groups were reportedly questioning the religious identities of hotel staff and local vendors. “Asking individuals for their names or making them undress to confirm their religion is a form of terrorism,” Hasan asserted. He likened the alleged occurrences to previous terrorist acts where victims were targeted based on their religion, referencing the Pahalgam massacre.

Trivedi further mocked ex-police officer and Congress leader Ajoy Kumar, accusing him of lacking basic knowledge about India’s geography. “How can someone who served in law enforcement be oblivious to India’s northeastern region unless blinded by political bias?” he stated.

In a press conference, Kumar, a former MP from Jamshedpur, discussed India's “deteriorating relations” with neighboring countries and attributed the situation to the BJP-led government at the Centre. He cited examples of Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, mistakenly naming Sikkim as well.

Expressing disbelief, the BJP spokesperson remarked that it is ironic for the Congress—under whose leadership the Emergency was enforced—to now preach about democratic values. “They’ve forgotten that the darkest period of Indian democracy occurred under Indira Gandhi,” he stated. He urged the Congress to remove their “anti-Modi lens” and view the true state of the nation. “Only then will they be able to recognize the genuine map and face of the country,” he concluded.