"Don't think you can implement Gujarat model in Odisha": Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka on BJP pelting stones at Congress Bhawan
Jul 04, 2024
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 4 : Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) youth wing on Thursday for pelting stones at the Congress Bhawan over Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's remarks in the Parliament, and took a veiled dig at the ruling party saying that they cannot implement the "Gujarat model" in Odisha.
"In the evening, members of their (BJP) youth wing came and pelted stones at the Congress Bhawan. This has never happened earlier...if this repeats, we won't sit quietly. Don't think you (BJP) can implement the Gujarat model in Odisha. This is a peaceful state...," the Congress MP said speaking to ANI.
Ulaka was referring to the inter-communal violence that broke out in Gujarat in 2002, for which the opposition largely held then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi responsible.
The Congress leader said that though Rahul Gandhi spoke about a range of issues in Parliament, the BJP "twisted" his words and gave an "anti-Hindu" definition to his speech.
"Rahul Gandhi raised a lot of issues including Agniveer, unemployment, inflation and Manipur but PM Modi, his ministers and MPs twisted his words and gave an anti-Hindu definition to it...," Ulaka said.
"Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal did a press conference and called Rahul Gandhi anti-Hindu and terrorist," he added.
Meanwhile, BJYM national president Tejasvi Surya on Wednesday led protests in Delhi against Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for his 'Hindu' remark.
Surya led a march of thousands of Delhi BJP workers to the Congress headquarters in Delhi, demanding an unconditional apology from Rahul Gandhi. He was later detained and released.
Earlier on Tuesday, Surya asked BJYM units across the country to hold extensive protests in all organisational districts of India, condemning the disgraceful remarks made by Rahul Gandhi.
Participating in the debate on the motion of thanks on the President's Address, Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP-led government on Monday and alleged there has been "a systematic attack" on the idea of India.
"There has been a systematic and a full-scale assault on the idea of India, the Constitution and on the people who resisted the attack on the Constitution. Many of us were personally attacked. Some of the leaders are still in jail. Anyone who resisted the idea of concentration of power and wealth, aggression on poor and Dalits and minorities was crushed. ..I was attacked by the order of Government of India, by the order of the Prime Minister of India...The most enjoyable part of it was the 55 hours of interrogation by ED...," he alleged.
"Abhayamudra is the symbol of Congress...The Abhayamudra is the gesture of fearlessness, is the gesture of reassurance and safety, which dispels fear and accords divine protection and bliss in Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and other Indian religions....All our great men have spoken about non-violence and finishing fear...But, those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, untruth...Aap Hindu ho hi nahi," the Congress leader said.
Rahul Gandhi also said that the BJP is not the entire Hindu society."Narendra Modi is not entire Hindu society. BJP is not the entire Hindu society, RSS is not the entire society, this is not BJP's contract," Rahul Gandhi said.