Opposition takes on Sushma, says BJP imposing 'dangerous ideological position'

Cutting across party lines, opposition leaders on Monday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's push for declaring the Bhagwat Gita a national scripture, saying that the party was trying to impose a dangerous ideological position which is detrimental to the nation's unity.

"It is a dangerous ideological position that the BJP is trying to impose on people which is detrimental to the unity of nation," Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja said.

Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Ali Anwar said that Swaraj was just looking for some publicity by making such statements.

"I respect Sushma Swaraj a lot. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been getting all the attention that she is supposed to get lately and I think this is the reason why she is making such statements, so that she gets some publicity," said Anwar.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia also slammed the announcement, saying the holy book was way above all this.

"If they want holy book Gita to be announced as National scripture, they are insulting Gita, the holy book is way above all this," he said.

The External Affairs Minister had reportedly called for declaring the Bhagwat Gita a national scripture, while speaking at an event on Red Front grounds to mark the "5,151st anniversary" of the Gita.

As per reports, Sushma said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already given it the honour of a 'national scripture' when he had gifted it to U.S President Barack Obama.