Dubbing Congress as the "worst communal party" in the country, BJP today condemned the opposition party claiming that it sees "a communal angle in everything" including International Yoga Day celebrations due to its mindset.
Instead of feeling pride that India's yoga was being appreciated across the world and the Day observed on the country's proposal, the Congress was seeing it through the "prism of communalism", BJP charged.
"The Congress mindset is a communal mindset and therefore, they see a communal angle in every action which is absolutely a neutral action.
"Where is the communalism in yoga? It is in the mindset of Congress, it is in the world view of Congress. Congress is the worst communal party of the country. We condemn such communalism of Congress and I am confident that people of the country will also shun such communal thoughts," Union Minister and BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said.
He said Yoga Day celebrations throughout the world were a moment of pride for India because India's Prime Minister had advocated for such an occasion and 170 countries accepted it within record time of 100 days.
The Rajpath celebrations saw citizens of 84 nations and of all religions participating in yoga exercises, he said.
"One should feel proud about it, but instead of feeling proud Congress is desperate, is feeling frustrated and therefore they are saying it is a communal thing," he said, adding that is why former minister Jairam Ramesh and Congress sees "communalism even in Namami Gange and yoga programmes".
At a press conference yesterday, senior Congress leader Ramesh had said, "It is a deliberate and mischievous attempt at polarisation. Yoga is being given a communal flavour."
The Union minister said the controversy over BJP leader Ram Madhav questioning the absence of Vice President Hamid Ansari at the Yoga Day celebrations was over after required clarifications were made. "I think the tweet and all clarifications have been done on the Vice President's issue and there is no issue left now," he said.
Asked about the Muslim Personal Law Board letter accusing the government of imposing saffron ideology on people through yoga, Javadekar said, "I have not seen the letter. I don't think the Muslim Law Board has such a thought. But if it has, it is wrong.
