bhaskarlive

Umar Khalid remarks: Congress always supported forces against country, interests, alleges BJP

Digital Desk | Hubballi (Karnataka), Sep 17 (IANS) Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Basavaraj Bommai alleged that the Congress has consistently supported and encouraged forces that are against the country and its interests. Reacting in Hubballi to recent remarks by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president B.K. Hariprasad in support of jailed activist Umar Khalid, Bommai on Wednesday alleged that the Congress was engaging in vote-bank politics by supporting those whom he described as anti-national. Bommai also alleged that the Congress had earlier attempted to portray the Mumbai terror attacks as saffron terror and had taken positions favouring Pakistan, which, he claimed, were detrimental to the country's interests. Referring to Hariprasad's remarks on Umar Khalid, Bommai alleged that supporting a person who is in jail amounted to supporting anti-national elements. Umar Khalid himself says that he is not a nationalist or a nationalistic person. He has carried out anti-India activities and is now in jail. By supporting such people, Congress is engaging in vote-bank politics, Bommai alleged. He further alleged that the Congress of the present day was different from the party that led the freedom movement, describing it as fake Congress and alleging that its leaders lacked concern for the country's interests and culture. Bommai alleged that Congress leaders were joining hands with foreign forces and elements opposed to the country, and said Hariprasad's statement had once again established this. He accused Congress leaders of showing their true colours by standing in support of those he described as anti-national and termed it shameful and condemnable. Bommai also demanded strict legal action against those who support anti-national forces. The Congress in Karnataka on Tuesday described jailed activist Umar Khalid as a nationalist and referred to his detractors as those with no morals and ethics, jumping right into the centre of a raging debate within the larger student community. Umar Khalid is a nationalist, and ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarathi Parishad) has no right to speak on Umar Khalid because ABVP adores Nathuram Godsewho was an anti-national and the first terrorist of the country. They have no moral right or moral ethics to speak on Umar Khalid, Hariprasad told reporters on Tuesday in Bengaluru.