Digvijay Singh , AICC General Secretary, and KPCC president Dr. G. Parameshwar addressing reporters in Bengaluru on Friday (Photo: DC)
Bengaluru: Terming the Hyderabad-based AIMIM a communal outfit, AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh said the Congress had been fighting communal forces even before the country's independence and would continue to do so.
Speaking to reporters at the KPCC office here, Mr Singh, when asked about AIMIM’s foray into the BBMP poll scene said, “We have never allowed any communal outfit to flourish, we will continue to fight communal forces of every hue, be it Sikh communalism, Hindu communalism or Muslim communalism, Congress party is committed to fight such forces.”
According to him, the Congress was not perturbed over parties like AIMIM. “They will not be able to occupy much space in secular India as every secular Indian will reject them,” he contended.
Training his guns on the JD(S) and BJP, Mr Singh alleged that eight years of unhindered rule by the two parties in BBMP, had led to the collapse of civic administration in Bengaluru. “I heard that garbage is good business in Bengaluru. See, we must learn the art of making money even from garbage from these leaders of BJP and JD(S). They only know how to make money by corrupt methods, This is another of their innovations,” he quipped.
Hailing former external affairs minister S.M. Krishna’s tenure as chief minister from 1999-2004, Mr Singh said citizens of Bengaluru are aware of the fact that the Congress worked hard to convert the city into the Silicon valley of the East.
Modi is on the path of reformation
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United Arab Emirates(UAE), AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh quipped that any change in the PM's stand vis-a-vis Muslims was appreciable.
“The man who refused to wear a skull cap, is now visiting a grand mosque in Abu Dhabi and this is a good sign,” he said. Speaking to reporters, Mr Singh said, “I am surprised by the tour itinerary which states that he will be visiting the grand mosque in Abu Dhabi. I am happy that at least after becoming PM, he is on the path of reformation.” Mr Singh also lashed out at the PM and finance minister Arun Jaitley for their keenness to pass the GST bill at this juncture.
“Mr Jaitley made a statement that the GST bill was prepared in 2006-07 and he was presenting the same bill in parliament. If such is the case, Mr Jaitley must come out with an explanation on why BJP opposed it from 2006 to 2014?,” he said angrily.
Rahul Gandhi to visit state soon
AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh said party vice-president Rahul Gandhi will soon be visiting the state to assuage the feelings of farmers in distress. He did not specify when Mr Gandhi would visit the state but assured that Rahul’s sympathies are with farmers in distress.
