Ahmedabad: Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel today said the BJP, instead of “giving lessons in nationalism”, should focus on running the government.
“I would like to tell those teaching us nationalism or patriotism that they should not teach us nationalism or patriotism, because they were never a part of the freedom movement. They should better focus on running the government,” Mr Patel, the political adviser to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, said.
He was in Ahmedabad to participate in a symbolic Dandi March from Sabarmati Ashram on the historic event’s 86th anniversary.
Mr Patel said ABVP, BJP’s student wing, is imposing its ideology across the college campuses and the government is using force to silence dissent in the name of nationalism against those who spoke against inflation, unemployment, farmers’ issues, economic situation and internal security.
“There is an attempt to divert attention from the issues that concern the nation in the name of nationalism. Those who speak against government are slapped with sedition charge,” Mr Ahmed said.
He also raised questions over security preparedness in the wake of recent intelligence that ten terrorists had entered the country from Pakistan.
“If Pakistan’s national security adviser has to inform our national security adviser that ten terrorists have entered India, then what is our intelligence department doing?” he asked.
Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki and leader of opposition in the Assembly Shankersinh Vaghela also took part in the event.
PTI