New Delhi:

A social media post by a former Pakistani minister has sparked fresh tensions between the BJP and the Congress. The post from Ch Fawad Hussain featured excerpts from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s speech with the caption “Rahul on fire,” drawing sharp criticism from BJP leaders.

Amit Malviya, the BJP’s IT cell chief, took to social media to question the Congress’s association with Pakistan, pointing out Mr Hussain’s previous role in Imran Khan’s cabinet. 

“Ch Fawad Hussain, who served in the Imran Khan cabinet, as Minister for Information and Broadcasting, is promoting Rahul Gandhi. Is the Congress planning to contest election in Pakistan?”

“From a manifesto, that has imprints of the Muslim league to a ringing endorsement, from across the border, Congress’s dalliance with Pakistan can’t get more obvious,” he added.

Ch Fawad Hussain, who served in the Imran Khan cabinet, as Minister for Information and Broadcasting, is promoting Rahul Gandhi.
Is the Congress planning to contest election in Pakistan? From a manifesto, that has imprints of the Muslim league to a ringing endorsement, from… pic.twitter.com/XllqlWdlAR

— Amit Malviya (मोदी का परिवार) (@amitmalviya) May 1, 2024

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala echoed similar sentiments, accusing the Congress of having a clear alliance with Pakistan. 

“Congress ka haath Pakistan ke saath,” Mr Poonawala posted. “Earlier Hafiz Saeed had said Congress is his favourite party. Mani Aiyer went to Pakistan for support to depose PM Modi! We remember Pakistan Zindabad slogans were raised recently by Congress leaders and BK Hariprasad openly batted for Pak. Time and again Congress leaders defended Pakistani terrorists too.”

Pakistani leader – someone who has spewed venom against Bharat is promoting Rahul & Congress

Earlier Hafiz Saeed had said Congress is his favourite party.. Mani Aiyer went to Pakistan for support to depose PM Modi!

We remember Pakistan Zindabad slogans were raised recently by… pic.twitter.com/VeXgm7CwTj

— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) May 1, 2024

In the video shared by Mr Hussain, Rahul Gandhi can be heard criticising the BJP, particularly targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The edited clip focuses on Mr Gandhi’s remarks regarding the Ram Mandir’s inauguration, where he accuses the BJP of neglecting the interests of the marginalised communities.

Bengaluru:

BJP leader Amit Malviya on Wednesday accused Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar of “brazen abuse of power” after a video of him seeking votes from the residents of a housing society in Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha segment was shared widely on social media platforms.

In the video clip, Mr Shivakumar was purportedly heard saying that he had come for a “business deal” and if the 2,510 houses in the housing society — 6,424 votes — go to his candidate — his brother D K Suresh is seeking re-election from Bangalore Rural in the coming elections — then he assured them that their major issues concerning supply of Cauvery river water and need for a civic amenity site would be resolved by him within three months.

Sharing the video clip, Mr Malviya, the BJP IT department head, attacked Mr Shivakumar, the state Congress chief, and said that irrespective of who the people choose to vote for, it is his responsibility as a minister to provide amenities to the people.

“DK Shivakumar, Deputy CM of Karnataka, in a brazen abuse of power, holds voters of a large housing society in his brother DK Suresh’s constituency, to ransom. Sounding every bit menacing, he wields a threat, couched in crass humour, that if the residents don’t vote for his brother, he would know (since their vote is in 2/3 booths) and not provide water and CA site…,” he alleged in a post on ‘X’.

“Irrespective of who the people choose to vote (for), it is DK Shivakumar’s responsibility as a minister to provide amenities to the people. If he doesn’t , then the BJP will, when they come to power. But such threats and quid pro quo for delivering what one has been voted for is UNACCEPTABLE,” he further alleged.

DK Shivkumar, Deputy CM of Karnataka, in brazen abuse of power, holds voters of a large housing society in his brother DK Suresh’s constituency, to ransom. Sounding every bit menacing, he wields a threat, couched in crass humour, that if the residents don’t vote for his brother,… pic.twitter.com/Kd08TRnSzA

— Amit Malviya (मोदी का परिवार) (@amitmalviya) April 17, 2024

Tagging the Election Commission of India on ‘X’, he urged them to take note of the multiple model code of conduct violations and intimidation in this case.

Reacting to the alleged video, Mr Shivakumar told reporters that it was his duty to solve the problems of the apartment, or any citizen for that matter. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Under fire from BJP for his remarks on actor-politician Hema Malini, senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala has said the BJP’s IT cell has developed a habit of distorting facts and spreading lies.

This comes after BJP leader Amit Malviya shared a video in which Mr Surjewala is seen addressing a public gathering. While saying that people elect leaders to raise their issues, he makes a remark on Ms Malini. In his post on X, Mr Malviya said it is the “most disgusting description someone can come up with”. “This is Rahul Gandhi’s Congress. It is misogynistic and abhors women,” the BJP leader said.

Mr Malviya also referred to the row surrounding offensive posts against actor and BJP candidate Kangana Ranaut from the social media profiles of Congress leader Supriya Shrinate. Ms Shrinate has said the posts were made without her knowledge.

Mr Surjewala today shared a video from the same event, in which he is heard saying, “We respect Hema Malini ji because she is married to Dharmendra ji, she is our bahu.”

Accusing the BJP of twisting facts and spreading lies, he said the ruling party’s objective is to divert attention from the Narendra Modi government’s “anti-youth, anti-farmer, anti-poor policies and its conspiracy to finish the Constitution”.

“These pawns of BJP never asked the Prime Minister why he said ’50 crore ki girlfriend’, called a woman MP ‘Surpanakha’, trolled a woman Chief Minister, used the expression ‘Congress’s widow’ and described the Congress leadership as a ‘jersey cow’,” he said.

Mr Surjewala said he only meant that every elected representative should be accountable to the people, be it him or (Haryana Chief Minister) Nayab Singh Saini and (BJP leader) Manohar Lal Khattar.

“My intention was not to insult Hema Malini ji or to hurt anybody. That’s why I clearly said we respect Hema Malini ji and she is our bahu. The BJP is anti-women, so it sees everything from its misogyny-tinted glasses and conveniently spreads lies,” he said in the post.

Ms Malini has not responded to the row over Mr Surjewala’s remarks. She is currently on the campaign trail for the Lok Sabha contest in Mathura, which she has represented since 2014.

Hitting out at Mr Surjewala, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said the only identity of the Congress is disrespecting the ‘Nari Shakti’.

“Nari Shakti Apmaan is the Congress’s only Penchan. And this has been yet again proved by cruel, crude, disgusting, misogynist and sexist statements by Surjewala, and those statements cannot even be repeated what he has said for Hema Malini ji,” he said.

Mr Surjewala, a Congress general secretary, is the latest prominent leader to make headlines for his remarks in this election season. Earlier, his party colleague Ms Shrinate and the BJP’s Dilip Ghosh have been warned by the Election Commission of India for their remarks and social media posts.

New Delhi:

Udhayanidhi Stalin, Tamil Nadu minister and son of Chief Minister MK Stalin, said on Saturday that Sanatana Dharma is against the idea of social justice and must be “eradicated”.

Mr Stalin compared Sanatana Dharma with diseases like dengue and malaria, inviting sharp criticism from BJP leaders. 

“Sanatana is like malaria and dengue and so it must be eradicated and not opposed,” he said as quoted by news agency ANI. 

The comments triggered massive backlash on social media, with many calling for a case to be filed against the Tamil Nadu minister. 

“Rahul Gandhi speaks of ‘mohabbat ki dukaan‘ but Congress ally DMK’s scion talks about eradicating Sanatana Dharma. Congress’s silence is support for this genocidal call. INDIA Alliance, true to its name, if given an opportunity, will annihilate the millennia-old civilisation that is Bharat,” BJP’s Amit Malviya posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

Udhayanidhi Stalin’s hate speech with Hindi subtitles.

Rahul Gandhi speaks of ‘मोहब्बत की दुकान’ but Congress ally DMK’s scion talks about eradicating Sanatana Dharma. Congress’s silence is support for this genocidal call…

I.N.D.I Alliance, true to its name, if given an… https://t.co/hfTVBBxHQ5pic.twitter.com/ymMY04f983

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 2, 2023

The DMK, a member of the INDIA bloc, met with other opposition leaders in Mumbai recently to streamline strategies for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where they will be contesting against the BJP-led NDA.

Mr Stalin’s remarks came at a writers’ conference in Chennai where he said Sanatana Dharma cannot be simply opposed but must be eradicated. The Tamil Nadu minister argued that the idea is inherently regressive, dividing people on the basis of caste and gender, and is fundamentally opposed to equality and social justice.

Responding to Mr Malviya’s tweet, he wrote: “I never called for the genocide of people who are following Sanatans Dharma. Sanatana Dharma is a principle that divides people in the name of caste and religion. Uprooting Sanatana Dharma is upholding humanity and human equality. I stand firmly by every word I have spoken. I spoke on behalf of the oppressed and marginalized, who suffer due to the Sanatana Dharma.

I never called for the genocide of people who are following Sanatan Dharma. Sanatan Dharma is a principle that divides people in the name of caste and religion. Uprooting Sanatan Dharma is upholding humanity and human equality.

I stand firmly by every word I have spoken. I spoke… https://t.co/Q31uVNdZVb

— Udhay (@Udhaystalin) September 2, 2023

“I am ready to present the extensive writings of Periyar and Ambedkar, who conducted in-depth research on Sanatana Dharma and its negative impact on society in any forum.  Let me reiterate the crucial aspect of my speech: I believe, like the spread of diseases like COVID-19, Dengue, and Malaria by mosquitoes, that Sanatana Dharma is responsible for many social evils.

“I am prepared to confront any challenges that come my way, whether in a court of law or the people’s court. Stop spreading fake news.”

K Annamalai, the state president of the BJP, accused Udhayanidhi Stalin and Chief Minister MK Stalin, of echoing the ideas of Christian missionaries.

“The only resolve that the Gopalapuram Family has is to accumulate wealth beyond the State GDP. Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin, you, your father, or his or your idealogue have a bought-out idea from Christian missionaries and the idea of those missionaries was to cultivate dimwits like you to parrot their malicious ideology,” Mr Annamalai wrote on X.

The only resolve that the Gopalapuram Family has is to accumulate wealth beyond the State GDP.

Thiru @Udhaystalin, you, your father, or his or your idealogue have a bought-out idea from Christian missionaries & the idea of those missionaries was to cultivate dimwits like you to… https://t.co/sWVs3v1viM

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) September 2, 2023

“Tamil Nadu is a land of spiritualism. The best you can do is to hold a Mic in an event like this and rant out your frustration!” he added.