People browse and purchase copies of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's newly released memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', at a bookstore in Khan Market, New Delhi, Tuesday.. (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma)

Accusing Congress leader Sonia Gandhi of hurting Hindu sentiments and indulging in appeasement politics, the VHP on Tuesday demanded an apology from her on the day of the release of her memoir 'Belonging: A Journey of Love'.The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) central joint general secretary Surendra Jain alleged that she is pretending to express grief to attract the Muslim vote bank and crying "crocodile tears" and "election-time tears".

In a statement, Jain claimed that she remains silent when Hindus face atrocities and massacres but expresses concern whenever action is taken against terrorists or invaders who happen to be Muslims.

He alleged that Gandhi has expressed anguish over the demolition of the Babri structure but remained silent over the sacrifice of police officer Mohan Sharma, who was seriously injured in the Batla House encounter with terrorists responsible for the Delhi blasts and later succumbed to his injuries.

"Tears flowed from Sonia Gandhi's eyes over the demolition of the Babri structure, a symbol of the brutality of the foreign invader, Babur. She said the same thing when terrorists who had shaken Delhi with blasts were hiding in Batla House, and India's brave security personnel sent those terrorists to hell in an encounter.

"Those terrorists had seriously injured Inspector Mohan Sharma, who later made the supreme sacrifice. But her tears did not flow over the sacrifice of that brave officer," Jain claimed. The VHP leader further alleged that Gandhi remained silent when Hindus were massacred in Kashmir and more than 350 temples were demolished in the Valley, while questioning her response to incidents of violence against Hindus.

"Was she shedding tears when more than 350 temples were demolished in the Kashmir Valley? Did her eyes well up when Hindus were massacred in the Kashmir Valley, and a mother was forced to eat rice soaked in her son's blood?" he asked, referring to a contested narrative often cited by right-wing outfits.

Jain also questioned whether Gandhi expressed grief over the killing of saints during the anti-cow slaughter agitation in Delhi and the killing of unarmed "kar sevaks". "When leaders of her own party were killed by Naxalites in Bastar, did her tears flow? Did she cry when Hindu tourists were brutally killed in Pahalgam after being asked about their religion?" Jain further asked.

Referring to violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, Pakistan, West Bengal and Kerala, he questioned Gandhi's response to such incidents. He also accused her husband, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, of being responsible for atrocities against Sikhs during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The VHP leader targeted the Congress over a reported remark by one of its leaders, Rashid Alvi, that Diwali causes pollution, but Eid does not lead to a rise in the Air Quality Index (AQI). "Now, during the election season, there is a flood of such statements which leave no stone unturned in insulting Hindus to appease Muslims. A leader from her own party says that Diwali causes pollution, but the AQI level does not rise during Eid. Is she not ashamed of this outrageous statement?" Jain asked.

He alleged that all parties calling themselves secular are attempting to woo Muslim voters by insulting Hindus and warned that the Hindu community will teach them a lesson. "During this election season, all parties that call themselves secular are making similar attempts to woo the Muslim vote bank. Hindus are being insulted by this secular mafia.

"The Hindu community will teach this secular mafia a lesson so that no one attempts to insult Hindu society and India or hurt its soul, and no one stands with terrorists and endangers the country's security," he said. The RSS affiliate also condemned statements by Gandhi and her associates, alleging that they insult Hindus and the sacrifices of soldiers in an attempt to appease Muslims.

"We strongly condemn those statements of Sonia Gandhi and all her associates which insult Hindus and the sacrifices of soldiers in an attempt to appease Muslims. The Hindu community is hurt by these statements and demands that she and her associates apologise," Jain said. 

Tags: