The BJP today accused Congress workers of "participating" in a rally where protesters shouted pro-ISIS slogans in Rajasthan and sought to corner the party over the issue as it referred to the debate on 'intolerance'.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Congress had uttered no word on the controversy although he expected the opposition party to make "maximum noise" as it had been raising the issue of intolerance.
"Slogans against RSS and in support of ISIS were made. But these political champions of secularism spoke no word. They were silent. We thought they would demand sedition charges against people involved in this...
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"In fact, some were seen protecting the Congress leaders involved in this rally," Naqvi alleged.
"If by mistake, somebody associated with the BJP had made such comments, then they (opposition parties) would have raised a hue and cry today. This is a very dangerous and destructive mentality. And supporting such people directly or indirectly is more dangerous still," he told a press conference.
Four persons were arrested for allegedly shouting pro-ISIS slogans at a rally in Rajasthan's Tonk district, which was held in protest against the reported "derogatory remarks" against Islam by a right-wing activist.
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Singhvi said the BJP deserves kudos and congratulations for its win in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand but equally deserves condemnation for its clear loss in two of the three other states where it "tried to subvert the peoples' mandate".
"A wrong remains a wrong irrespective of electoral numbers, irrespective of everything else," he said while pointing out at attempts at installing governments in Goa and Manipur through Governors.
To the question that the BJP alleges these examples were set in the past by K R Narayanan and S D Sharma, Singhvi said these were all prior to the adoption of Sarkaria Commission and the Punchhi Commission in Supreme Court judgment of Rameshwar from Bihar.
"Mr Naidu should go and read the judgment in Para 64 and 65 of Rameshwar and then speak about the subject. He is speaking completely in the abstract. These are precedents which are purportedly cited, which is ages and years old well before the Supreme Court laid down the law," he said.
On Manipur, he said, "We are having all our options open. Let them keep on making mistakes and let us keep on deciding our strategy in the light of that mistake."
On the question that in UP, the BJP has not yet announced its leader, Singhvi said, "Now if 24 hours in government formation is a long time, please lay down the rule. If it is good for democracy, I am very happy, we will also apply sometime."
He also said that constitutional principles should not change "whether I am in power or you are in power".
