Mangaluru: All India Congress Committee general secretary K.C. Venugopal advised Congressmen against speaking derogatorily about any religion, here on Monday.
While he claimed he was not aware of party MLA, B R Patil’s alleged criticism of Hinduism at the the Lingayat convention in Hubballi on Sunday , Mr Venugopal said it was okay to speak against extremism and religious fundamentalism but not against a religion.
“I am not aware of the statement by the MLA at the convention. But the Congress party believes that Hinduism, Islam, Jainism and Christianity are very good religions. Nobody has the right to speak against Hinduism,” he asserted, adding that he would look into the MLA’s comments on the issue.
Mr Venugopal, who was in Mangaluru to review the “Mane Manege Congress,” programme, accused the BJP of trying to divide society by objecting to the state celebrating Tipu Jayanti.
Recalling that the President himself had praised the legendary Mysuru king, he said, “We have seen Rastrapathiji praising Tipu Sultan as a freedom fighter. He is the head of the country and was elected by the BJP. When the President has himself declared that Tipu was a freedom fighter, BJP leaders are speaking against him and dividing the country. This sort of divisive politics has no place in Karnataka."
Dismissing two survey reports giving a clean sweep to the BJP in the state’s coastal districts in the coming assembly poll, he added, “Frankly speaking we don’t depend on surveys but on people. I am sure we will have a clear edge over the BJP in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Chikkamagalur in the coming assembly election."
Claiming that the Congress organisation was very strong in Karnataka, he said the Mane Manege Congress programme had received a good response in the state .
“ I am checking the lapses and ensuring that all our leaders participate in it. Of course we may have our some small differences. But compared to the BJP the Congress is calm and peaceful," he contended.
