Chidambaram blames BJP for making minority community 'live in fear'

Former union finance minister P. Chidambaram on Friday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for threatening the minority community in the name of beef ban, alleging that the poor are living in fear.

"The Congress government and its ministers have not threatened any one. But now those in the ruling government are threatening people. In this country Muslims, Dalits and Christians are living in fear," he said.

Chidambaram further said as the Indian Penal Code (IPC) says not to harass cows, however, people are being harassed in the name of beef.

"Dalits, Muslims and some Hindus are also eating beef. Many crores are eating beef and are indulged in this. In the name of cow protection how much are being threatened. The BJP has to answer," he added.

Taking up Hyderabad University Ph.D scholar Rohith Vemula issue, he said now in India it is about Dalit or non-Dalit.

"Vemula got scholarship for Doctorate in the Central University. In his suicide note he wrote that his birth is so worse and is an accident. Is this a free country? How can we call this as a free country?" he questioned.

Continuing his tirade against the saffron party, Chidambaram said in Lucknow the anti-romeo squad has distorted the freedom of speech and expression.

"Is this a free country? If Prime Minister Narendra Modi has guts, let him ask couples who go in Mercedes Benz to cinema halls. The BJP is only for high class people," he said.

He added that the minority communities know what the BJP stands for.

"The BJP government says "Sabka Vikas", still now the Prime Minister has not condemned a single word on incidents against Muslims and Dalits," Chidambaram said.