Kamal Nath’s “proud to be a Hindu, but not a fool” assertion sparks political row in Madhya Pradesh

By Express News Service

BHOPAL: A political controversy has erupted in Madhya Pradesh over the state Congress president Kamal Nath’s assertion, “I’m proud to be a Hindu, but am not a fool.”

The ex MP CM and former union minister made the assertion reportedly whereas addressing a state degree advocates assembly within the state celebration headquarters on Sunday, a day earlier than senior Supreme Court advocate Vivek Tankha filed his nomination papers for re-election to the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

“I say with pride that I’m a Hindu, but I’m not a fool. For us religion isn’t the basis of politics, but is linked to our sentiments. We dont make political event out of religion, as it’s an event only for our individual families,” Nath had reportedly stated on Sunday.

He additionally recounted that when he constructed the Hanuman Temple housing big Hanuman idol in his parliamentary and meeting constituency Chhindwara some years again, he didn’t publicise it as a political occasion.

However, Nath’s assertion was sufficient to provide the ruling BJP the a lot wanted ammo to focus on state Congress management over the problem.

“Neither the BJP nor the state government has ever considered him (Nath) a fool. May be it’s due to internal issues within his own party, that he(Nath) has made the unwanted statement. All we can say is that the forum he chose to explain about being a Hindu wasn’t appropriate. Be it Kamal Nath or Rahul Gandhi, they’re just Chunavi Hindus (Hindus at times of polls) who wear a janeyu or sport a tilak only at times of polls,” state’s residence minister Narottam Mishra stated.

“Kamal Nath is an Ichchadhari Hindu (wishful Hindu), who remains silent over the issue of Ram Setu, goes silent when his friend (Digvijaya Singh) questions the date of foundation of Ram Temple at Ayodhya,  is in silence on 1984 genocide of Sikhs, conviction and punishment to Yasin Malik and also mute over the Gyanwapi-Kashi Vishwanath issue,” Mishra, additionally the state authorities spokesperson stated.

However, defending his chief’s controversial assertion, the state Congress spokesperson Ajay Singh Yadav stated, “it’s not a matter of being a smaller or bigger Hindu. By his statements, our leader meant to convey that it’s the BJP which by linking religion with politics is fooling people.”

Yadav additionally questioned that if the BJP is so dedicated to Hinduism, why did induct ex SP MP Naresh Agrawal (who in 2017 linked alcohol with Hindu gods and goddesses) in its ranks in UP.

Amid  the confrontation between the Congress and BJP over Nath’s “proud to be Hindu, but not a fool” assertion, the ruling BJP appears to have discovered a method out of the assault on the state authorities by Nath and his celebration over OBC reservation in upcoming native our bodies polls within the state.