The Vishwa Hindu Parishad today hit out at those targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "graveyard, cremation ground" remark, stating that his detractors have touched an "unprecedented low" in discourse and asked the Election Commission to keep vigil.
VHP Joint General Secretary Surendra Jain also hailed Modi for his remarks, saying the comments will direct the country's politics in a new direction where "appeasement based on religion will have no place."
"...Those who are into politics of appeasement felt that the Prime Minister's comment were directed against them...The electoral discourse stooped at such an unprecedented low. Someone is using words like donkey.
"EC should keep a vigil on this as all limits are being crossed. Such discourse will alienate people from politics," he told reporters here.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had yesterday contested Modi's claim about discrimination in power supply during Ramzan and Diwali in the poll-bound northern state.
Giving an interesting twist to the no-holds-barred election campaign, Akhilesh also appeared to target Modi as he "appealed" to megastar Amitabh Bachchan "not to campaign for the donkeys of Gujarat."
Defending the Prime Minister, Jain said the former's remark was against "politics of appeasement" and that he was talking about sharing of country's resources equally by all.
Addressing a poll rally at Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, Modi had stressed that there should be "no discrimination on the basis of caste and religion" and asserted that inclusive growth was his government's mantra.
"Agar Ramzan mein bijli aati hai, to Diwali me bhi aani chahiye, bhedbhav nahi hona chahiye (If there is electricity during Ramzan, it must also be available during Diwali, there should be no discrimination).
"If there is a 'kabaristaan' (graveyard), there should be a 'shamshaan' (cremation ground) too," he had said.
Referring to the Supreme Court's order against using religion and caste for seeking votes, the VHP leader claimed, "Those who call themselves secular are into such appeasement."
"SC should monitor this because it had itself instructed that religion and caste should not be used for political gains. And the way it is happening, it is not right. It is breach of law and violation of ethics," he said.
To a question over the VHP's pitch for constructing Ram temple in Ayodhya, Jain hoped if a BJP-led government came to power in the state, it would clear the hurdles in the way of building the structure.
"It is not the government's job to build a temple, but of the community. We hope if BJP government comes to power, it will help clear the hurdles in constructing the temple," he said.
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