The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, 11 November 2026 launched a sweeping attack on the Indian National Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP), accusing both parties of deliberately insulting Hindu traditions and Indian culture to consolidate minority votes ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The broadside was delivered at a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi by party national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi.

Key Allegations Against Congress

Trivedi trained his fire on Congress over what he described as a pattern of remarks denigrating Hindu festivals. He criticised Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge for reportedly using the phrase 'Khushiyon Ki Eid' in reference to Diwali celebrations. “This once again shows the extent to which Indian religion and culture can be insulted, as reflected in the conduct of the Opposition, particularly the Congress,” Trivedi said.

He also referenced Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s description of the Indian economy as ‘dead’, countering it with Dhanteras spending figures. “On Dhanteras alone, this so-called dead economy demonstrated that it could purchase as much gold and silver in a single day as the entire of Europe buys in three months,” Trivedi said, adding that the remark reflected “contempt and hatred” for India’s traditions.

Drawing a comparison with international leaders, Trivedi noted that leaders of Muslim-majority countries including Indonesia and Malaysia had referred to the festival as Diwali in their greetings without hesitation, implying that Congress had been less forthcoming.

Sonia Gandhi Ayodhya Claim Questioned

Trivedi also cited an alleged interview of Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, in which she reportedly said she was “moved to tears” after the demolition of the disputed structure in Ayodhya on 6 December 1992. He challenged the account on factual grounds. “There was no live telecast on December 6, 1992. Nor was there any facility for satellite uplinking from a place like Ayodhya at the time. So, who had the kind of divine vision to show her those scenes?” he questioned. The Congress has not publicly responded to this specific claim.

Trivedi also targeted Congress MP Imran Masood, whom he alleged had previously made controversial remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his time in the Samajwadi Party, and had since been appointed Uttar Pradesh Working President of the Congress. He claimed Masood had described Diwali as a ‘man-made disease’.

BJP Takes Aim at Samajwadi Party Over Ayodhya Plans

Reacting to the SP’s announced show of strength in Ayodhya on 12 December, Trivedi framed it as an opportunity rather than a threat. “If you go there, it will be a show of strength of the unity of Indian society, as well as of the BJP and our ideology,” he said.

He also cited remarks attributed to the late Mulayam Singh Yadav from an election campaign in the Lucknow Cantonment Assembly constituency during the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, quoting him as saying: ‘I had 16 Hindus killed. What more could I have done for Muslims?’ Trivedi said Mulayam had also indicated he would not have regretted it even if 40 people had died. These are contested historical claims and the SP has not been reported as having confirmed them in this context.

The Political Context

The BJP’s press conference comes against the backdrop of a charged political atmosphere in Uttar Pradesh, where the next Assembly elections are anticipated to be fiercely competitive. The BJP’s strategy of framing its opponents as anti-Hindu has been a consistent feature of its electoral campaigns in the state since at least 2017. Critics argue that such rhetoric is itself designed to polarise voters along religious lines rather than contest policy.

Trivedi characterised the BJP’s approach as development-led, contrasting it with what he described as “hardline minority appeasement” by the Congress and SP. “Both are clearly visible,” he said, adding that the opposition offered only two modes: “insulting Hinduism or deceiving Hindus in the name of religion.”

With the Uttar Pradesh election cycle drawing closer, the intensity of these exchanges is expected to sharpen further in the weeks ahead.