Mumbai, Oct 18 (NationPress) The Congress party has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of manipulating religion, national identity, and hollow nationalism for political gain. They claim this has escalated to creating a marketplace for gods, deities, and icons, where the dignity and identity of the populace are traded under the guise of corporate Hindutva.

According to party spokesperson Sachin Sawant, "The BJP's vision of Hindutva has completely turned corporate. In their quest for wealth, they have disrespected our gods, revered deities, and national icons who have made substantial contributions to our country. The station previously known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is now Kotak Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. Siddhivinayak station has been rebranded ICICI Lombard Siddhivinayak, Mahalaxmi is now HDFC Life Mahalaxmi, and Acharya Atre station has been renamed Nippon India MF Acharya Atre. This is a disgraceful manipulation of our identity and sentiments."

He called upon BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, to clarify their stance on this blatant insult. "Those engaging in politics under the banner of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj must respond — how can they permit the prefix ‘Kotak’ to precede the name of our beloved king? The Congress Party and the proud citizens of Maharashtra will not stand for such desecration of our icons," he emphasized.

Sawant accused the BJP of intentionally distracting the public from pressing issues like farmers’ struggles, unemployment, inflation, and women's safety through renaming politics and identity manipulation. He stated that the BJP's interpretation of Hindutva is rooted in hatred and division; they are concocting their power politics on the fuel of religious intolerance.

He further noted: "They have renamed Allahabad to Prayagraj, Faizabad to Ayodhya, Rajpath to Kartavya Path, and Racecourse Road to Lok Kalyan Marg — their aversion to names like Nehru and Gandhi remains evident. They have removed Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's name from the Nehru Science Centre and Sanjay Gandhi's name from Sanjay Gandhi National Park Station. These names are part of our national and public heritage — and the BJP has shamelessly put them up for sale. They have commodified our pride, faith, and history."

Sawant quipped, "Perhaps the only names remaining are Kalbadevi and Sheetaladevi stations — and soon this government may find itself soliciting corporate sponsors to auction those names as well. After selling airports, ports, public sector entities, and government land to corporate firms, now even deities and significant leaders are being commercialized."

He concluded: "By marketing the names of temples and deities, the BJP has laid bare the hypocrisy of its so-called ‘Sanatan’ Hindutva. They exploit identity for power; but once in control, they surrender that very identity to corporate interests. The BJP has diluted religion, pride, and culture — all for corporate gains. This isn't Hindutva — it's Corporate Hindutva, and Maharashtra will oppose it with all its might."