Questioning the “conditional” apology of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his statement on the Maha Kumbh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (January 28, 2025) accused the party of being against Indian culture and Sanatan Dharma.
“He (Mr. Kharge) said that he apologises if anyone’s sentiments have been hurt. It became evident that the sentiments of the Congress president and the Congress party were not hurt. It clearly shows that the Congress’s sentiments are linked to eradication of Sanatan Dharma and dismantling global Hindutva,” BJP MP and spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi told media persons.
“It is in the very nature of Congress to be against Indian culture and Sanatan Dharma, because of which they make such deplorable statements without a hitch,” he said.
Mr. Trivedi quoted media reports that this year’s Kumbh could make over 1% contribution to India’s GDP. “Just for Mr. Kharge’s information, this Kumbh is projected to generate 2.5 lakh crore economics…there has been a 21.4% increase in visa applications showing a spike in spiritual tourism,” he said.
In another statement, Surendra Jain of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) condemned the statement by Mr. Kharge, accusing him of insulting not only the rich tradition of the Kumbh and but also the faith of the entire Hindu community.
“The entire world is today fascinated by the reports that over 40 crore devotees are likely to take a holy dip in Prayagraj. The Kumbh has become a key milestone of the glorious journey of the Hindu faith. Kumbh has set an unparalleled example of Hindu unity, where there is no caste discrimination, no untouchability. As a result, those who indulged in the politics of dividing the Hindu community are troubled and are making such reckless statements,” Mr. Jain said in a video message.
Stating that the Hindu community would provide a befitting response to the Congress, the VHP leader accused the party of being anti-Hindu. “Can they dare to make such a disrespectful comment against other faiths, as given on Kumbh?…the Congress has always attempted to obscure the glorious occasions that are cherished by the Hindu community. In the past, they tried to brand Hindus as terrorists by slapping false cases,” Mr. Jain said.
