Examiner News Desk | Srinagar:
Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday reacted to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s controversial “traitor” remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying the BJP was now facing the consequences of a political culture it had itself promoted over the years.
Speaking to reporters in Shopian, the Peoples Democratic Party chief dismissed the uproar surrounding Gandhi’s remarks and accused the BJP of routinely labelling Muslims and secular voices as traitors.
“Why is there so much hue and cry if Rahul Gandhi has said something? It was the BJP which started calling Muslims and secular persons as traitors,” Mehbooba said.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister further alleged that minorities had been targeted politically and socially in recent years.
“Earlier, they used to say ‘go to Pakistan’, now they are saying ‘go to Iran’. Houses of Muslims were bulldozed, but nobody said a word,” she added.
The controversy erupted after Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a public rally in Rae Bareli, launched a sharp attack on the BJP and the RSS, accusing them of undermining constitutional institutions and the legacy of India’s freedom fighters.
“When these RSS workers come before you and talk about Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, then tell them openly that your prime minister is a traitor, your home minister is a traitor, and your organisation is a traitor,” Gandhi had said during the rally.
He further alleged that the BJP government had weakened democratic institutions and insulted icons such as Mahatma Gandhi and B. R. Ambedkar.
“Tell them that they have worked to sell out India, that they have attacked our institutions, attacked our Constitution, attacked Dr Ambedkar, attacked Veera Pasi, and attacked Mahatma Gandhi,” Gandhi said.
The remarks triggered a political storm, with BJP leaders strongly condemning the statements and accusing the Congress leader of using inflammatory language against constitutional authorities.
