New Delhi:- Hitting back at Congress, BJP today said while the British believed in repressing Indians it believed in repressing rivals as it justified Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks that the saffron party suffered more in independent India than Congress in the colonial rule.
The party also rejected Congress’ charge that Modi’s comments were an insult to freedom fighters and asserted that it eulogised freedom fighters of all hues while the Opposition party glorified only a section of them due to political reasons.
“British used to repress Indians. Congress has been repressing rivals. It imposed the Emergency and threw all rivals behind bars. Repressing rivals has been part of its policy,” BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said.
He also referred to the death of Jana Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee in a Jammu jail during his protests against the stand of Congress on Kashmir issue.
“We are giving due respect to all freedom fighters. Lakhs of people made sacrifices. India’s struggle for freedom started in 1857. The past governments glorified a few people.
Bhagat Singh was mentioned as a terrorist and Chandrashekhar Azad’s sacrifice was hardly acknowledged. We are making amends and glorifying everybody,” he said.
Sharma asked Congress to shed its negative mindset, claiming that this was the reason behind its dwindling presence in the country.
Attacking the party for its stand on Modi’s reference to Balochistan, he said it was high time that the Opposition party spoke in one voice.
“Experts have praised Modi’s stand. It is high time everybody should speak in one voice on an issue of national unity and integrity,” he said.
PTI
