Karnataka BJP has condemned Congress over the display of posters showing a distorted map of India at the venue of the centenary celebrations of the INC's 1924 session in Belagavi, stating that it shows utter disrespect for India's sovereignty and is shameful.
Taking to social media handle X on Thursday, the BJP said, "Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has been handed over to Pakistan by the Indian National Congress - Karnataka! This is actually an act of treason, how Congress members could distort India's map in the name of Gandhi Bharat. The banners erected at Belagavi serve as an evidence of the fact that Congress is "prepared" to commit any despicable act for the sake of personal benefit and appeasement politics. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, please take away these banners immediately and act against such traitors who distorted India's map.
"The Karnataka Congress has shown utter disrespect for India's sovereignty by displaying a distorted map at their Belagavi event, portraying Kashmir as part of Pakistan. All this just to appease their vote bank. Shameful," the BJP said.
The Congress party is celebrating the centenary event of Mahatma Gandhi taking over as the Congress President in a session held at Belagavi in 1924 to launch the Independence struggle. The grand old party is geared up for mega celebrations scheduled to be held on December 26 and 27.
The party is organizing a 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan' rally along with the extended Congress Working Committee meeting as part of centenary celebrations in two days.
The Congress has declared the area where Mahatma Gandhi presided at the historical INC meeting in Belagavi as the Mahatma Gandhi Nagar. On December 26, the Congress Working Committee meeting will be held near Gandhi Well, also known as Pampa Sarovar.
In 1924, during the Belagavi Congress session, Mahatma Gandhi presided over the event. Karnataka leaders Gangadhar Deshpande and former PM late Jawahar Lal Nehru, then the Congress General Secretaries, organised that session in Belagavi on an 80-acre ground. Presently, the Congress is conducting the working committee meeting in the same location.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, MPs of Congress Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Sonia Gandhi, members of working committee, current and former Chief Ministers from different states, legislative party leaders, State Congress Committee presidents, MPs, MLAs, party workers from all corners of the state, and general public are attending this event.
It said it had collected the records of its 1924 session, announcing a book to be issued on December 26, pertaining to the same issue.
On December 26, at 10 a.m., Mahatma Gandhi's statue will be unveiled at Veer Soudha and followed by a photo exhibition. At 10.45 a.m., Khadi fair will be inaugurated. At 11.15 a.m., the unveiling of the Gangadhar Deshpande memorial and the inauguration of the photo exhibition will take place.
At 3 p.m., the working committee meeting will start. Dinner will be hosted by the Congress President at 7 p.m.
On December 27, at 10.30 a.m., the statue of Gandhi at Suvarna Soudha will be unveiled by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and the LoP Rahul Gandhi.
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