Karnataka Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao calls BJP anti-Hindu party

Potshots continue in poll-bound Karnataka after state Congress Working President Dinesh Gundu Rao termed BJP as an ‘anti-Hindu’ party.

Rao was in Delhi to attend the crucial meeting of state leaders with Congress President Rahul Gandhi to chart the strategy for Karnataka.

While talking to India Today, Rao said, “Who is BJP to decide about who is a Hindu? Are they custodians of Hindu Dharma? BJP is insulting the Hindus. They are insulting the Hindus of Congress and all other parties.”

On being asked about the basis of his claims, Rao replied, “They are anti-Hindu because as per them, to be a Hindu, you have to be in the BJP. This itself is an anti-Hindu statement. Just because we don’t believe in their hardline idealogy, hate policies doesn't make us anti-Hindus.”

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath who recently toured Karnataka had made headlines with his sharp attack on Congress.

Rao said that Yogi Adityanath is ‘irrelevant’ in the state of Karnataka.

“Yogi Adityanath is good for national media. He talks only about Hindutva and his hate politics. That’s why Yogi Adityanath is irrelevant in Karnataka,” Rao added.

Clearing the air that Congress will only focus on development issue, Rao said, “We don’t believe in their ideology, that’s it. We will contest on the basis of development done by us in the state.”

He found support from Karnataka CM Siddharamia who said that he will have no apologies for his statements against BJP/RSS and its leaders.

“BJP has no issue other than polarisation. BJP has no agenda. We’ll fight this poll on development issue,” he added.

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