Goa BJP MLA Michael Lobo today said politicians in the country should not make statements that may divide the communities and create tension, and elections can't be won by "pitting one community against another".
Lobo sought to attack the opposition Congress, which had recently organised 'pledge against intolerance' campaign. Congress was trying to divide people on religious lines, he said.
"Intolerance was there earlier as well. Only now it is being hyped up and made to sound as if the BJP is about to divide India. Not only in our party, in every party there are one or two people who talk nonsense. India is a country of many religions and everyone has a place here," Lobo said.
"You cannot win elections by pitting one community against another. You have to be responsible members of your community," said the MLA, who is a prominent Catholic face of the state BJP.
Speaking about the comments made by leaders of the MGP party last year which is in coalition with BJP, Lobo said as elected representatives, all politicians have the responsibility to ensure that they "do not make wrong statements which can create tensions and divide people."
"There has not been a single communal incident in Goa over the last three years that BJP is in power. The people of Goa are educated and smart enough to know and will not be fooled by the Congress's claims," Lobo said, adding that the Congress was raking up the issue only for political gains.
