Nagpur, September 11: Union Minister Anurag Thakur criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray for their silence on what he described as attempts to “disrespect” Sanatan Dharma. Thakur, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), made these remarks in the midst of a political controversy sparked by DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s accusations against Sanatan Dharma, accusing it of promoting division and discrimination among people.
Additionally, DMK leader A Raja equated Sanatan Dharma to diseases such as leprosy and HIV, which carry social stigma.
Responding to reporters’ questions in Nagpur regarding Rahul Gandhi’s statement that he has read Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita and that there is nothing inherently Hindu about the BJP’s actions, Thakur said, “The opposition should break its silence on insults to Sanatan Dharma.” He asserted, “The opposition is focused on disrespecting Sanatan Dharma. This demonstrates their mindset, and there is a continuous effort to insult Sanatan Dharma,” according to the minister.
Regarding Rahul Gandhi’s comments on the India versus Bharat debate, Thakur stated that some individuals have a habit of “spreading fear and confusion and telling lies.” He added that they have been doing this throughout their lives.
In response to Uddhav Thackeray’s statement that a “Godhra-like” incident could occur after the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Thakur claimed that some individuals have forsaken their ideology for the sake of power. He remarked, “I don’t know what Balasaheb (the late Shiv Sena founder and Uddhav Thackeray’s father) would have thought today and what Uddhav ji is doing today for the sake of power. Rahul ji and Uddhav ji did not utter a word when numerous derogatory statements were made about Sanatan Dharma,” Thakur added.
On Sunday, Thackeray had expressed concerns about a “Godhra-like” incident occurring during the “return journey” of a large number of people expected to converge in Ayodhya from across the country for the inauguration of the Ram Temple. The temple’s inauguration is anticipated to take place in January 2024, ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
On February 27, 2002, a group of ‘karsevaks’ returning from Ayodhya on board the Sabarmati Express was attacked, and their train carriage was set on fire at Godhra station in Gujarat, leading to multiple casualties and triggering widespread riots across the state.
