BJP lauds RSS, says Congress 'encouraging divisive forces'

Coming out all guns blazing on Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad for equating the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) with the infamous Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday alleged that the grand old party was promoting anti-nationals and encouraging the divisive forces.

Disapproving Azad's remark, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu expressed hope that the Opposition should realise their mistake and withdraw the unwarranted statement.

"The statement was wrong, I was surprised that a person of a stature as Gulam Nabi Azad could make such a statement that shows that the Congress is more comfortable with the ISIS than the RSS. And they have given credibility and respect to that organisation, thereby encouraging divisive forces," Naidu told the media here.

"It's an atrocious and insensitive statement because the party, which has ruled the country, has encouraged all the divisive forces for the sake of vote bank (politics)," he added.

Naidu further said the RSS is known for its selfless services and is one of the most patriotic disciplined and dynamic organisations which has produced starlets for the country, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the former prime ministers.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi echoing similar sentiments said Azad's statement indicates the Congress believes in taking a stand for terrorists and anti-nationals.

"The Congress Party has come up with a brand new secular formula that is respect the unworthy and ridicule the worthy...They should apologise for it and clear their intention as to why have they compared the RSS with ISIS," he added.

Azad, who is the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, had on Saturday kicked a controversy after he sought to draw a parallel between the RSS and ISIS, evoking sharp response from the Hindutva outfit and the BJP, which demanded an apology from him.