The Congress and the CPI today condemned remarks by a BJP MLA from Uttar Pradesh that the 2019 Lok Sabha election will be fought on the lines of Islam versus Bhagwan, saying it reflected the character of the saffron party's leaders and how the ruling party was vitiating the situation for electoral gains.
Surendra Singh, the legislator from Bairia, said that the next general election will also be about "Pakistan versus Bharat".
Earlier this week, Singh had also defended his party MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case.
The character of the leaders of the BJP, when it comes to women's safety or communal politics, is there before the country and people will give an answer to it, All India Mahila Congress president Sushmita Dev told reporters here.
Seconding Dev, CPI national secretary D Raja said his party has been saying that the BJP is allegedly trying to polarise the people.
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"The BJP is playing on the communal religious line and is vitiating the situation for the sake of electoral gains. This MLA articulated his party's understanding, Raja said.
Singh, while addressing a public meeting last night in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, had said, "The 2019 polls are going to be on the lines of Pakistan versus Bharat...Islam versus Bhagwan and so the respected people of the country you have to decide whether it will be Islam which will win or Bhagwan."
"(You have to) decide if it is the dishonest that will be victorious or (Narendra) Modi's sincerity," he said.
The lawmaker, who has made controversial statements in the past, said that people would rejoice if the BJP managed to retain power at the Centre. In case the opposition succeeds in forming government, drums and trumpets would be played in Pakistan, he said.
The legislator had earlier said that once India becomes a "Hindu rashtra" only those Muslims would stay in the country who assimilate in the Hindu culture.
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