Congress leader Pawan Khera on Thursday unleashed a fierce verbal assault on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), linking a series of disruptive incidents during Christmas festivities to a broader pattern of alleged atrocities against India's minority communities.
A Direct Challenge to the Government
In a pointed interaction with the ANI news agency, Khera posed a stark question to the government, drawing a controversial parallel with neighbouring Bangladesh. "Do we want India to become like Bangladesh?" he questioned, adding, "Because atrocities are committed against minorities there, will we also commit atrocities against minorities here? What kind of India do we want?" His remarks were a direct response to reports of vandalism and disturbances that marred Christmas celebrations in several states, including Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Jaipur.
Condemning Provocative Actions
Khera elaborated on his criticism by condemning actions that he deemed deliberately provocative and disrespectful to other faiths. He emphasized that celebration of one's own religion should not translate into disruption for others. "Celebrate your festivals, but what is the need to go and dance outside a mosque on Hanuman Jayanti playing provocative songs?" he asked rhetorically.
Extending the argument to the recent Christmas incidents, he stated, "Recite the Hanuman Chalisa. I also recite it twice a day. But if it's Christmas, what do you want to prove by going outside their Church and reciting the Hanuman Chalisa? This cannot be my religion. Neither is this my country nor my civilisation." His comments targeted specific reports where Christmas events were allegedly interrupted by groups chanting Hindu hymns.
Accusation of Imposing Uniformity
Going beyond the immediate events, the Congress spokesperson framed the incidents as symptomatic of a larger ideological push by the BJP. He accused the party of trying to enforce a homogenised cultural identity on India's inherently diverse society. Khera underscored that such acts of disruption and the alleged pattern behind them were antithetical to the nation's pluralistic ethos, which he claimed the BJP was seeking to replace with a vision of "one nation one religion, one nation one language, one nation one dress."
The political firestorm ignited by Khera's statements adds to the ongoing national debate on religious freedom and communal harmony. The incidents on Thursday, which led to localised chaos and tension in multiple locations, have now become a focal point for opposition criticism against the government's record on protecting minority rights.
