‘Is this idea of INDIA?’: BJP takes a swipe at Opposition over SP MLA Abu Azmi's remarks on chanting ‘Vande Mataram’
Lok Sabha elections. The group announced that the upcoming polls would see the BJP ‘fight against INDIA’. “Abu Azmi of SP says: I won't say Vande Mataram, I won't bow my head as my religion doesn't allow it. Is this idea of I.N.D.I.A? Or is this anti-India? SP is a part of this alleged I.N.D.I.A," BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla tweeted.
The senior politician claimed that while India was in the name of the opposition parties' alliance, it was not in their agenda. The acronym incidentally stands for Indian National Developmental Inclusive alliance. Earlier this week Azmi had created quite a stir while raising the Sambhajinagar district riot issue in the Maharashtra Assembly. Outraged BJP lawmakers had taken serious exception to his remarks with the state legislative assembly eventually being adjourned on Wednesday.
"Some people say that if one has to live in India, 'Vande Mataram' must be chanted. We can not do it. We believe only in one god," he had said.
Speaker Rahul Narwekar had appealed for calm, insisting that the comments were ‘irrelevant to the topic’. He eventually adjourned the house for ten minutes as the protest continued. "Earlier SP released terrorists and patronised Yakub (Memon), Afzal (Guru).
Congress questioned the surgical strike, Balakot, and 26/11 was blamed on India, not Pakistan. This is their true face. Will Mamata-di, Kharge ji, Rahul ji tell us their stand?" Poonawalla asked.
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