Congress has become "frustrated" due to emergence of an alternate narrative in the country after BJP's ascension to power which has challenged its long-standing "intolerant strategy" of suppressing discordant views, BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said here today in a scathing attack on Congress over 'growing intolerance'.
Naidu said the "political intolerance" is a "trait" of Congress which is running a "misinformation" campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"We are constrained to say that this ongoing misinformation campaign is an effort to derail the development momentum created by the by the energetic efforts of Prime Minister.
"They (Congress) have always patronised and aligned with the casteiest, communal, chauvinistic and fundamentalist forces. This approach of Congress over last many years has resulted in the present situation in the country," the Urban Development Minister said, adding that it's the "mindset and philosophy of Congress which has to be blamed for the current scenario".
Seeking to dispel the perception that the PM has been silent on a string of issues, Naidu said, "Whenever required, he (Modi) had categorically condemned the acts and appealed to people to maintain peace.
"He has already said that the 'mantra of unity' should be the medium of our thinking and behaviour..Modi does not want to be distracted from his focus on development".
He said Congress has grown intolerant since Modi received the massive mandate (to govern) and is feeling "frustrated" because of the emergence of an alternative view following change of regime.
"These people who always thrust one view on the country all these years are not ready to tolerate the other view emerging now. One particular line of thinking has been patronised and individuals and institutions were propped up in the name of one family.
"No other worldview or perspective was allowed to be expressed or grow. When such individuals have to make way for others, it is not palatable for them because they feel it is their monopoly," Naidu said.
He said the common people will understand this and could hold a debate on this.
"It is good that a debate takes place and people know who is encouraging the fissiparous and divisive forces, who is intolerant as there is an opportunity now for the other view also to be expressed, heard and reported," the minister said.
In an apparent reference to the reported remarks made by
senior Congress leaders Mani Shankar Aiyar and Salman Khurshid in the Pakistani media, Naidu accused Congress of running a "massive misinformation" campaign against BJP.
"They are so frustrated that they go to Pakistan and call upon people of Pakistan to dethrone Modi. This communal politics of Congress over last 60 years has been dividing people and creating social tension.
"They always try to divide people on the basis of religion for the sake of vote bank politics," the Urban Development Minister said.
He said that the senior Congress leaders are "frustrated" after losing power and not yet reconciled with the reality.
"They condemn Indian Prime Minister and praise Pakistani Prime Minister. They and their supporters condemn RSS and praise IS...Congress leadership is a silent supporter of such disturbing tendencies within their party," Naidu added.
Stepping up the diatribe, Naidu said Congress had joined hands with the Muslim League which was responsible for partition of the country and even shared power with them.
"They (Congress) patronised Majlis fundamentalists organisation, aligned with them in Hyderabad corporation, praised Bhindranwale," he said.
Naidu said Congress should explain why it couldn't resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogue in the last 60 years.
Taking on the Left, Naidu said a group of 47 senior academicians has accused the "Left-leaning scholars" of running an "orchestrated campaign" aimed at claiming high moral round over the issue of intolerance.
"For the last 60 years or so, Congress and its dependents have been in power at Centre and in most of the states and they have an octopus-like presence in most of the academic and cultural institutions," the BJP leader said.
He said the Left intellectuals had a "field day since they are beneficiaries of patronisation by Congress".
"Although minuscule in political presence, the Left exercised disproportionate and almost hegemonic distinction in these institutions. The reason being after the split in Congress, Congress was heavily dependent on them for political support," he added.
