New Delhi: BJP on Friday accused Congress of trying to divide the country on communal lines as it sought to drag Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi in the row over party leader Shakeel Ahmad's controversial statement, saying a senior leader like him would have spoken only after getting their approval.
Condemning Mr Ahmad for his tweet that had Chhota Rajan and Anup Chetia been Muslims, the Modi government would have a different narrative, BJP said Congress is viewing even terrorists through a communal angle and those "who love the country are losing their trust in it."
"Congress started an unfounded debate over tolerance and intolerance before the Bihar election. Now it is trying to divide the country on communal lines. Congress should stop communal politics. It should stop its attempt to put communal colour to every issue for polarisation.
"He (Ahmad) is a senior party leader and spokesperson and would not have made these comments without the approval of his party president and vice president. He has made a statement to divide the country on communal lines," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told a press conference.
He also highlighted the comments made by Congress leaders Salman Khurshid and Mani Shankar Aiyar in Pakistan while criticising the Narendra Modi government.
Ms Sonia Gandhi and Mr Rahul Gandhi should break their silence and say if Mr Ahmad's statement is the line of Congress too, he said.
Asked about the party's stand on the allegation levelled by Subramanian Swamy, also a BJP leader, against Mr Rahul Gandhi that he had claimed to be a British national years ago, Mr Hussain parried the query, saying let Mr Gandhi first speak.
He said representatives of the Prime Minister will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Mr Nitish Kumar, who will take oath as the chief minister of Bihar, and rejected the contention that the massive victory of the Grand Alliance will make things more difficult for BJP in Parliament.
"The arithmetic in Parliament will not change after this victory. They (JD-U and RJD) were coordinating with Congress earlier as well in floor management," he said.
Mr Hussain also condemned Hindu Mahasabha for its attempts to glorify Mahatma Gandhi's killer Nathuram Godse.
He claimed that BJP follows the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and is against any attempt to glorify Godse.
