Gehlot’s BJP Ban Remark Triggers Political Storm
Congress veteran says Indira Gandhi would have banned BJP; saffron party accuses Congress of anti-Hindu politics
- Ashok Gehlot claims Indira Gandhi would have banned BJP
- Former Rajasthan CM alleges rising religious polarisation
- BJP accuses Congress of hating Hindus and Hindutva
- Fresh war of words erupts ahead of key political battles
GG News Bureau
Jaipur, 15th June: A fresh political controversy has erupted after senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot claimed that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi would have banned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) if she were alive today.
Speaking at an award function in Jaipur, Gehlot alleged that the country’s political atmosphere had become increasingly polarised and described the current situation as the most dangerous he had witnessed in over five decades of public life.
“If a leader like Indira Gandhi were alive today, she would have banned a party like the BJP. I am saying with full responsibility that the atmosphere today is extremely dangerous,” Gehlot said.
The Congress veteran accused the BJP of pursuing divisive politics and alleged that religious polarisation was being deliberately encouraged for electoral gains.
Questioning the BJP’s representation of minorities, Gehlot referred to elections in Uttar Pradesh and asked why the party did not field Muslim candidates. He alleged that the BJP was attempting to project itself solely as a Hindutva-based political force.
“Do you want to do politics only in the name of Hindus?” Gehlot asked, while asserting that a leader of Indira Gandhi’s stature would not have tolerated such politics.
The remarks drew a sharp response from the BJP, which accused the Congress of harbouring hostility towards Hindus and the ideology of Hindutva.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said Gehlot’s statement reflected the Congress party’s “Emergency mindset” and alleged that the opposition party was attempting to target Hindu sentiments.
“The Congress party hates Hindus and Hindutva. Hindutva has been described as a way of life by the Supreme Court. Why would it be banned?” Poonawalla said.
He further accused the Congress of pursuing appeasement politics and claimed Gehlot’s remarks exposed the party’s ideological opposition to Hindutva.
The exchange has triggered a fresh round of political sparring between the Congress and BJP, with both parties accusing each other of divisive politics and attempting to consolidate support ahead of upcoming electoral contests.
Neither the Congress leadership nor other senior BJP leaders had issued additional statements on the controversy at the time of filing this report.
