BJP today accused Congress of “communalising” the elections after Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid declared its support for the ruling party and asked the Election Commission to take cognizance of the matter.
The BJP said Congress has been accusing it of practising communal politics but it has been itself “exposed” after seeking support of muslim clerics for votes.
“Congress talks secularism but walks communalism,” said party vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
“Congress has been badly exposed. It has been labelling us as a communal party but now it has itself been unmasked,” he added while reacting to declaration of support to Congress by the Shahi Imam, three days after Sonia Gandhi sought it.
Naqvi’s party colleague Ravi Shankar Prasad said Congress leaders were seeking support of the people like Bukhari as they failed in all fronts.
“We condmen Imam Bukhari’s statement. This government is desperate. They know they are going to lose very very heavily. Therefore, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi try to communalise the whole election. They have failed so Shahi Imam Bukhari has come to the front,” Prasad said.
“The Election Commission must take note of this rant communal appeal,” he said.
Naqvi, the muslim face of BJP, said the Congress was trying to “communalise” the elections to divert attention from the issues being highlighted by BJP like development, price rise, unemployment and good governance.
He insisted that Bukhari’s appeal will have no impact on the voters. “In this election, the Congress will lose not only electorally but also morally,” he claimed.
Bukhari, who had a meeting with Congress President few days ago, today declared his support to Congress, saying it will “strengthen” secularism and termed communalism as “bigger threat” to the country than corruption.