BJP alleged that the Congress president was merely a mouthpiece for Rahul Gandhi and the Gandhi family

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Monday launched a sharp attack on Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his description of Diwali as 'khushiyon ka Eid', with Union minister Giriraj Singh accusing him of practising appeasement politics and attempting to divide Hindus while pandering to Muslims. Reacting to Kharge's remarks, Singh alleged that the Congress president was merely a mouthpiece for Rahul Gandhi and the Gandhi family, accusing him of repeating whatever the party leadership fed him. "He is merely a 'loudspeaker'—a mouthpiece—for Rahul Gandhi and the Gandhi family. It only broadcasts whatever is fed into the machine. So, this has been going on for a long time. Kharge-sahab, your true colours have been exposed. You are playing a game of appeasement in this country," Singh said. "Nehru divided the nation, and ever since then, you have been practising the politics of appeasement, trying to divide Hindus while pandering to Muslims. You and Rahul Gandhi will never speak up against someone like Irfan Ansari. When a bomb blast occurred in Ghaziabad, aimed at destroying Diwali, you remained silent. You cannot bring yourself to utter even a few kind words regarding our Hindu festivals.

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This will no longer be tolerated. .." he added. Kharge had extended his Diwali greetings over the weekend, describing the festival as 'khushiyon ka Eid' while speaking to reporters. He had said Diwali was a major festival celebrated by everyone in India. The remarks triggered criticism from several BJP leaders, who accused the Congress of compromising the identity of Hindu festivals for political appeasement. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia questioned why Diwali could not be referred to by its own name, while challenging Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to describe Eid as the 'Diwali of joy'. Another party spokesperson, Tuhin Sinha, also accused the Congress of attempting to associate Hindu festivals with Eid.

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