"...Are you the Home Minister for the country or for one community. It is irresponsible, idiotic approach of the Government of India," senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here, attacking Shinde for defending his directive.
Naidu said the directive was against secularism and the Constitution and the approach should be that no innocent person should be arrested.
"Shinde has shamelessly defended the move. I am asking BJP chief ministers to throw it into the dustbin...," he said.
"The Congress is running away from discussing development and following a divisive agenda," Naidu said.
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On the Telangana turmoil, he charged the Congress with treating the matter as if it was an internal party affair and dealing with a "sensitive issue" in an "irresponsible and immature manner."
Congress leader Digvijay Singh's statements made without authority were "adding fuel to the fire," Naidu said, adding the Congress should keep its house in order by convincing its Chief Minister and ministers first.
Naidu announced that party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi would address a rally in Bangalore on November 16, to be followed by eight other rallies across Karnataka.