AICC general secretary and senior Congress leader from Rajasthan, Dr CP Joshi, brewed a fresh controversy by stating that only Brahmins can talk about Hindusim. He also mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and central minister Uma Bharti in his speech, questioning why the two speak on Hindu religion when they are not Brahmins or pandits.
Joshi also questioned Bharatiya Janata Party's charge against Congress and asked who gave them the authority to decide that a member of his party cannot be a Hindu and can only think about welfare of Muslims.
"They say a Congressi can't be a Hindu, who gave them the authority to issue certificates? Have they opened a university? If anyone knows about religion then its pandits/brahmins. They are just misguiding the people by such moves. Uma Bharti is a Lodhi, and she talks about Hinduism, Modi ji talks about Hinduism. Its only Brahmins who don't talk about it. The country is being misled. Religion and governance are two different things. Everyone has the right to practice their religion,"he state while addressing a public gathering in his hometown Nathdwara on Wednesday.
The Congress leader also charged BJP with spreading lies about the equation shared by India's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. He stated that, contrary to what is portrayed by BJP, Patel never initiated a move without consulting Nehru. Known as the 'Iron Man of India', Patel was instrumental in uniting the country through the merger of princely states.
"Sardar Patel ji was in Pandit Nehru's cabinet. Patel ji's unifying India project had the support of Pandit Nehru, he never did anything without Pandit Nehru's nod. But these people today spread misinformation that both of them did not get along," Joshi said.
He also stated that BJP has forgotten that the development India is witnessing was started by Nehru. The leader substantiated his statement with examples of agriculture and connectivity sectors.
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After facing criticism for his remarks, the senior Congress leader took to micro-blogging site Twitter on Friday and wrote, "I strongly condemn the fabricated use of my statement by BJP."
Dr Joshi began his political career as a student leader in the 70's and was first elected as MLA from Nathdwara, Rajasthan in 1980 and will contest the upcoming state polls from the same constituency.
He has been an MLA in the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha for four terms and has served as a State Cabinet Minister in the previous Government between 1998 to 2003. He has held various portfolios in the social sector including education, Panchayati raj, rural development, public health engineering, and planning.