BJP calls Rahul Gandhi anti-national: Congress hold aakrosh march in Bihar

Patna: Bihar Congress on Saturday said it would take out ‘Aakrosh (Angst) march’ across the state on Monday to protest against a BJP leader’s alleged derogatory remarks about party vice president Rahul Gandhi. “We condemn the BJP leader’s statements making derogatory remarks against our party leader Rahul Gandhi. Such utterances by RSS and BJP leaders are being made with an intention to bring war-like situation in the state… And hence the party has decided to take out ‘Akrosh march’ across the state on Monday,” Bihar Congress chief Ashok Choudhary told reporters here. Choudhary, the state Education minister in the grand alliance government led by Nitish Kumar, alleged that BJP leaders are making below the belt statements against Congress leaders. “Congress leaders do not need any certificate of being nationalist from BJP or RSS. Indian National Congress is the only party whose leaders are nationalist,” said Choudhary. [caption id=“attachment_2635408” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. Image courtest: Firstpost[/caption] On 18 February, a BJP MLA from Barmer, Kailash Choudhary had allegedly called Gandhi a “traitor” and said he should be hanged and shot for backing “anti-national” students of JNU. Choudhary, who represents Baytoo constituency, made the remarks at his residence in Barmer which invited sharp reaction from Congress. In response to a query about Union Government’s decision to hoist national flag in all Central universities, he said the decision exhibited pseudo-nationalism of the BJP. “This is ‘pseudo nationalism’. Any Indian can fly the national tri-colour anywhere in the country. There is no such ban at all. Court has given freedom to everyone to fly the tri-colour on his/her house. This is an effort just to show that they (BJP and RSS) are ‘more nationalist’,” Choudhary said. Choudhary said the RSS started hoisting the tri-colour at its headquarters after the orders from Supreme Court and High Court and now it has woken up to “nationalism” and “flag hoisting”. The Human Resource Development Ministry on February 18 made mandatory hoisting of the tricolour in all central universities across the country. The decision, which came in the backdrop of the massive row over alleged anti-India protests in JNU, was taken at a meeting of Vice Chancellors in Surajkund and was convened by HRD Ministry led by Smriti Irani. The resolution is applicable to JNU too as it is a central university, the officials had said. Stating that there is complete freedom for exchange of ideas in the JNU, Choudhary said the BJP is making JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar’s arrest an ‘issue’ to deflect people’s attention from the twin major issues of checking price rise and strengthening the economy in past two years under. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has failed on both fronts in past two years, he said. This is being done deliberately keeping in mind the assembly elections of Uttar Pradesh and Assam, the stat Congress chief alleged. Referring to attack on Kanhaiya in court premises, he wondered at the behaviour of lawyers and suspected the lawyers may be RSS workers in black robes. “If they have evidence of sedition against Kanhaiya Kumar, then they must show some proof such as video etc,” he said, adding why not a case of sedition be lodged against BJP and RSS leaders who not only admire and consider (Nathuram) Godse as their ideal but have also installed his idol. Asserting that RSS and BJP are trying to impose their ideology both on country and JNU, Choudhary said there is a conspiracy to destroy the institution. Congress would organise dharna and demonstration tomorrow in Patna to protest against the alleged derogatory remarks of Rajasthan BJP MLA against Rahul Gandhi, rising “intolerance” in the country and “efforts” to muzzle freedom of speech and expression, a release issued by Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee said. The demonstration would start with burning the effigy of the Prime Minister at Dak Bungalow roundabout in the state capital tomorrow, party state unit spokesman H K Verma said. He said the dharna and protest march would be organised in the district headquarters on Monday. PTI