Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam, on Friday, claimed that there are many leaders in his party who hate Lord Ram and the word 'Hindu'.
"I have felt that there are some leaders in Congress who hate Lord Ram. These leaders also hate the word 'hindu', they want to insult Hindu religious gurus. They don't like that there should be a Hindu religious guru in the party," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
He said being a part of a party doesn’t mean that the truth cannot be called the truth and a lie cannot be called a lie. "Is talking about the country, Sanatan Dharma and saying Vande Mataram joining BJP," he asked.
"If we are not in BJP, can't we speak the truth or talk about Sanatan? The question is not about BJP and Congress, but India culture and tradition. One can't imagine about Bharat or our democracy, without Lord Ram and Sanatan Dharma."
He, however, clarified that the grand old party is not anti-Hindu.
Getting into damage control mode, the Congress said the claims made by Acharya Pramod Krishnam were his personal opinion. "Congress respects all religions and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is the biggest example of it," Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely said.
The BJP was quick to target the grand old party, with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claiming that Acharya Pramod Krishnam's statements confirm what the saffron party was always saying—"Congress is “allergic” to Prabhu Shri Ram."
"Senior Cong leader & Family loyalist, Acharya Pramod ji confirms what I have been saying- Fearing a particular vote bank, Congress is “allergic” to Prabhu Shri Ram.
The proof is 👉 Before polls, you will find their leaders and so called Hanuman Bhakts visiting every temple *except* Shri Ram Janmabhoomi. My challenge remains -when will they visit Ram Lalla Virajman," he said in a tweet.
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said: "" The one and only Hindu Dharma Acharya on Congress side, who is also close to Gandhi family, if he says this then that means the hatred that Congress has against Hindus has become full...their biggest ally in Chennai recently in their speech called for eradication of Sanatan Dharma...It is clear that Congress's ideology is against Hindus dharma and Lord Ram," reported ANI.