“Muslims Not Your Slaves”: In Madhya Pradesh, Congress is met with friendly fire

The governing BJP claimed that Aziz Qureshi’s comment “exposes that the Congress party believes in the politics of minority appeasement” and that “its leaders” do the same

Aziz Qureshi, a seasoned Congressman, has launched a front against his own party in Bhopal, criticising it for playing the Hindutva card and admonishing that “Muslims are not slaves who will act as per their orders.”

The 82-year-old, who formerly held the offices of governor of Uttar Pradesh, minister of Madhya Pradesh, and member of the Lok Sabha, made the pointed statements while addressing a meeting of Muslim leaders from the Congress in Vidisha to commemorate the birth anniversary of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

“All parties, especially the Congress, should recognise that Muslims are not chained labour or slaves who must obey orders,” he continued. Why would people vote for you if there are no jobs available for them in the police, military, or banking industries? Since they are not assured bank loans, why should they vote for you? he questioned.

“They will tolerate to a certain extent the burning of their businesses, houses, and places of worship, as well as the orphanageization of their children. They don’t act timidly. There would be no harm if one or two crore out of the 22 crore Muslims gave their life if it crossed the limit, he said.

He claimed that Congress officials are currently discussing Hindutva. “They are carrying out religious yatras, putting up idols, and singing “Jai Ganga Maiyya,” “Jai Narmada Maiyya,” and “Garva se kaho Hindu hain.” This is unacceptable. I have no fear of getting kicked out of the party, Mr. Qureshi declared.

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The state Congress unit made an effort to minimise the comments. It’s his personal perspective, according to state party spokesperson KK Mishra. The Congress rejects what he allegedly said and supports secularism.

However, the governing BJP wasted no time in attacking the party with the veteran Congress leader’s remark. “The statement unequivocally demonstrates that the Congress party supports appeasement politics. Only during election season do its leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Kamal Nath, turn to Hindus. Qureshi’s offensive words should be addressed directly by both Rahul Gandhi and Kamal Nath, according to state BJP spokesperson Narendra Saluja.

In the lead-up to the next assembly elections later this year, the Madhya Pradesh Congress has been accused of making a “soft Hindutva” campaign, according to Mr. Qureshi’s views. The party is adamant about avoiding ceding Hindu support to the in power BJP and fending against the BJP’s accusation of appeasing minorities.

Mr. Nath, who is seen as the face of the Congress campaign, has regularly been spotted with Hindu clerics. He recently claimed that it is unnecessary to mention that India is a “Hindu Rashtra”. “Here, 82% of the population is Hindu. It is a settled matter. It’s not something you should explain. These are numbers. Why is it necessary to state it separately? he questioned.