BJP hits out at Kharge for calling Diwali ‘Eid of joy’

New Delhi, Nov 9: The BJP on Monday accused the Congress of indulging in “appeasement politics” and hurting the sentiments of Hindus after AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge described Diwali as an “Eid of happiness”.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that the Congress had made it a practice to disrespect Hindu religious traditions while attempting to appease the Muslim community.
Extending his Diwali greetings over the weekend, Kharge had told reporters that Diwali is a major festival celebrated by everyone in India and described it as ‘khushiyon ka Eid’.
Congress leader Pawan Khera defended Kharge, saying those criticising the remark were “semantically ignorant” as the word ‘Eid’ literally means “festival”.
“Now go and listen to his statement again. It is perfectly normal, unlike the Sanghi negativity that makes some people incapable of sparing even a festival,” Khera said on X.
“In the spirit of Diwali and for the love of God, please light a bulb or two in your brain as well, and spare the rest of us the public display of your stupidity,” he added. Khera ended his post by calling the critics “jahil” (illiterate or ignorant).
Bhatia said, “This is the DNA of the Congress party: Indulging in blatant appeasement of the Muslim class; and hurting the sentiments of the Hindu community even during a festival that symbolises joy, happiness and inclusiveness.” He said Kharge appeared reluctant to even acknowledge Diwali and alleged that his statement reflected the party’s “anti-Hindu and anti-Sanatan mindset”.
“We did not really expect Kharge to extend Diwali greetings to Hindus. But then came his statement…,” Bhatia said.
“If Diwali is an Eid of happiness, then according to Kharge ji, Eid too would be a Diwali of happiness,” he said.
He also alleged that Kharge was acting under the influence of Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, claiming that his statements reflected their views.
Bhatia also targeted Sonia Gandhi over her recent remarks that she had cried while watching the demolition of the Babri Masjid, calling it the “height of appeasement politics”.
Bhatia accused the Congress of selectively raising concerns over pollution during Diwali while remaining silent on other occasions.
Referring to Eid-al-Adha, he said, “When our Muslim brothers and sisters celebrate Bakrid, goats are sacrificed. Blood flows into the water, causing water pollution. But not once has any Congress leader spoken about this.”
He also said, “The Congress’s definition of secularism is: silence the majority. You have to silence the majority and surrender to the radicals.”
“This is the same party that once claimed that Lord Ram was imaginary. Such a party has no right to make comments on our grand religious festivals. Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi have still not visited the Ram Temple,” he said.
Earlier in the day, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said the Congress chose vote bank politics even on Diwali with the party president describing Diwali as an “Eid of Happiness”.
Another BJP spokesperson, Tuhin Sinha, said Muslims celebrate Eid only twice a year but the Congress party wants to celebrate every Hindu festival as “Khushiyon ki Eid.”
“So, the Congress party effectively wants to celebrate Eid 10-12 times a year. That’s why this Cong party is MMC (Maowadi Muslim League Cong) as Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls it,” he added.
In another post, Bhandari said the Congress thinks of appeasement and vote bank even on occasions like Diwali and this shows the “anti-Sanatani” mindset of the Congress party. (PTI)