Shobha Oza accuses BJP of playing communal politics in UP

Congress leader Shobha Oza today accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of playing communal politics ahead of the by-polls in Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking to ANI, Oza said, "The BJP is trying very hard to make Uttar Pradesh communal. It is instigating riots in the state and is creating a communal environment there. In the upcoming by-elections in UP, they are trying to polarize the society along the lines of caste and religion and are trying to win elections along those lines."

She alleged that the BJP has many faces and said that the saffron party picking up the topic of 'love-jihad' is an example of communal politics.

"The BJP has many faces, just like 'Ravan'. It uses a particular face, according to the situation, which is to its advantage. The BJP might have not discussed 'love- jihad' during their recent meeting in Vrindavan but its associated groups are still going forward with it," said Oza.

"The Constitution of India allows you to marry whomsoever you want to. Who are they to be the moral police to tell people who they can marry? All of this is happening in UP, with the BJP concentrating on the by-elections. No such talks of 'love-jihad' have happened in Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh, where the state government in power is of the BJP," she added.

The Congress leader's comment came after Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath vowed to pursue the agenda of 'love-jihad' in UP, after an undated video surfaced in which he was targeting the minority community.