New Delhi: In a bid to woo minorities ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor here on Thursday said the country cannot progress so long as its minorities continue to suffer.
Addressing the AICC minority department national convention here, Tharoor said, "We will not prosper till you (minorities) continue to suffer, the county will not succeed,"
Attacking the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA government for its divisive politics, Tharoor said, "BJP wants to build a caste and religion based country. Unlike the Congress, the BJP mindset is that the country is a Hindu-owned place and everyone else is a guest."
"The 2019 elections is significant, I am fearful, that the idea of India, which is all about tolerance and acceptance of others, will die out if BJP returns to power. We have to protect the idea of India by voting for Congress," said the Congress MP.
Tharoor heaped praise on party president Rahul Gandhi for his inclusive brand of politics.
"He is a true Hindu… and his mantra of Hinduism believes that everyone is equal," Tharoor said.
The day-long AICC convention was held at the city's Jawaharlal Nehru stadium. The Congress minority cell represents Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Parsis, and Jains.
