'Another Attempt To Divide Nation': BJP Slams Congress Over Distorted Map, To Hold Massive Dharna In Belagavi

Last Updated:December 26, 2024, 20:36 IST

The posters in question allegedly depicted 'Kashmir as part of Pakistan' and excluded the Gilgit region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the Aksai Chin region under Chinese administration, both of which are considered integral parts of India

Ahead of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on December 26 and 27, these controversial posters cropped up across the city. File pic

The Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka has found fresh ammunition to target the Congress after a distorted map of India has created quite a furore during the Belagavi winter session of the assembly, where special focus is being given to commemorating the centenary of the 1924 Congress session led by Mahatma Gandhi.

The Karnataka BJP will hold a massive dharna in Belagavi to protest against this “major error".

“We will organise a dharna in front of the Suvarna Soudha near the Gandhi statue, involving all our MLAs and former MLAs, to expose how the Congress distorted the Indian map and misused public funds," BJP state president BY Vijayendra said.

Ahead of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on December 26 and 27, these controversial posters cropped up across the city.

Vijayendra said that even though the posters featuring the distorted map have been removed, it “clearly reflects the mindset of the Congress party not just in Karnataka but across the country". He called the centenary celebrations a “waste of taxpayers’ money".

He also accused the Congress of neglecting the plight of farmers. “Farmers in Raichur, Gulbarga, and Belagavi are suffering without adequate compensation. Instead of addressing their problems, the Congress is wasting taxpayers’ money on such events," he said. “They are misusing public funds for an event in Belagavi. The Bharatiya Janata Party strongly opposes this misuse of taxpayers’ money."

The posters in question allegedly depicted “Kashmir as part of Pakistan" and excluded the Gilgit region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the Aksai Chin region under Chinese administration, both of which are considered integral parts of India.

When asked if the map distortion was accidental or deliberate, Vijayendra termed it intentional. “This is not the first time the Congress has done this. Such incidents have occurred repeatedly across the country. It is not a mistake but reflects their mindset," he said.

As Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said that history is repeating itself, with the current Congress embodying the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi’s freedom struggle against a particular rule, Vijayendra was quick to retort.

“Today’s Congress is a ‘nakli Congress.’ It neither follows Mahatma Gandhi’s ideology nor believes in a strong and united India. They are wasting taxpayers’ money in Belagavi instead of addressing real issues," he said.

Senior BJP leaders termed this “another attempt by the Congress to divide the nation".

BJP IT cell national convener Amit Malviya also weighed in, accusing Sonia Gandhi of being co-president of a George Soros-funded organisation that advocates Kashmiri independence. “Sonia Gandhi, as co-president of the George Soros-funded Forum of Democratic Leaders in Asia Pacific (FDL-AP) Foundation, which supports Kashmiri independence, shows the Congress’s true intent," he alleged.

Malviya further accused the Congress of displaying a distorted map of India at the Belagavi event, featuring party leaders like Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Vadra, with Kashmir shown as part of Pakistan.

“It is not a mistake; it is a deliberate statement. This reflects their appeasement politics, suggesting Indian Muslims are more loyal to Pakistan than India," Malviya said. “The Congress is the new Muslim League. It wants to divide India again."

BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla condemned the incident, calling it an attack on India’s sovereignty. “This is yet another example of the Congress’s ‘Bharat Todo, tukde-tukde’ agenda," he said.

“RaGa’s Mohabbat Ki Dukaan is always open for China. They divided the nation once and will do it again," the BJP’s official party handle posted on social media site X.

Congress leader Srinivas BV responded fiercely. “This controversy has been created by the BJP and RSS (the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ruling party’s ideological mentor)," he told news agency PTI. “They have a problem with this celebration of 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi taking over as president of the All India Congress Committee… and taking historic decisions to bring reform. They are spreading lies."

News politics 'Another Attempt To Divide Nation': BJP Slams Congress Over Distorted Map, To Hold Massive Dharna In Belagavi