BJP Rajya Sabha MP and national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi on Tuesday accused the Congress party of seeking "eradication of Sanatan Dharm" and "dismantling Hinduism," stating that Mallikarjun Kharge's comments show the party's deep-seated disdain for Indian culture and traditions.
Reacting to Congress chief's comments at the 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan' rally in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, Trivedi said that the comments are a reflection of Congress' consistent stand against Sanatan Dharma.
At the rally, Kharge questioned the relevance of BJP leaders' holy dips in the river Ganga during the Maha Kumbh and said that such acts do little to address poverty, hunger, and other pressing issues.
Trivedi condemned the apology by Kharge for "potentially hurting sentiments," stating, "Kharge's so-called apology proves that these are not his feelings but rather the Congress party's true intent -- the eradication of Sanatan Dharm and to dismantle Hinduism globally. The Congress has once again shown its tendency to make cheap and objectionable statements about Indian culture and Sanatan Dharma."
The event is expected to generate an economy of Rs 2.5 lakh crore, contributing nearly 1 per cent to the GDP. Spiritual tourism has seen a 21.4 per cent increase, with a surge in visa applications from foreigners. This shows how deeply the Maha Kumbh contributes to India's economy and cultural identity," said Trivedi.
He also spoke of the significant international participation, which includes Lauren Powell, wife of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who has also visited the dham. He added, "Even amidst the Russia-Ukraine conflict, sanyasis from both countries are camping together, performing havans for world peace. But Congress seems unable to digest this."
Reacting to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's recent attack on the media, Trivedi termed it as a "panic" utterance by the party in response to electoral losses.
Rahul Gandhi had accused the media of ignoring the pressing issues of farmers and common people due to its alleged control by business groups.
Trivedi countered by stating, "Instead of making baseless allegations against the media, Rahul Gandhi should introspect on Congress' consistent electoral defeats. This habit of blaming others stems from the party's inability to accept its failures."
The BJP MP reiterated that criticism by Congress about Maha Kumbh and the spiritual practices of the leaders are due to the fact that they are unaware of the cultural and economic significance of such events.
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