Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala has said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the real virus infecting the nation.

His remarks came a day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the Congress had been affected by a ‘Muslim League virus’. “It’s the BJP which is involved in dividing people in the name of religion and by inciting communal passion. The fear of losing the Lok Sabha elections has forced the party to come out with such statements,” he said at a meet-the-press held here on Saturday.

Urging the Election Commission to initiate action against the U.P. Chief Minister for his remarks on the Muslim League, Mr. Chennithala said the statement was in violation of the provisions under the model code of conduct. “The Muslim League is a secular party recognised by the Election Commission. It has representation in both the houses of Parliament and has MLAs in various States,” he said.

Blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for often forgetting his stature, Mr. Chennithala said that Mr. Modi had insulted the people of Kerala in general, and Wayanad in particular by saying that Rahul Gandhi opted for Wayanad fearing backlash from the majority Hindu voters in Amethi. The BJP had been trying to create fissures in a secular and peace-loving society in the State by coming out with communal statements, he said.

Referring to the report submitted by the amicus curiae on the August floods, he said the government could not run away from the finding that it was responsible for the man-made tragedy.