Rebuked, Joshi regrets Brahmin remark

JAIPUR/BHOPAL: Congress leader and former Union minister, CP Joshi, on Friday expressed regret for his comment that only Brahmins have the authority to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya, following a reprimand on Twitter by party national president, Rahul Gandhi, as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed that the Congress was trying to divide society on religious lines.

BJP’S Rajasthan election in-charge Prakash Javadekar on Friday said the party has approached the Election Commission of India to seek cancellation of Congress’s registration.

“It (Joshi’s comment) is a violation of the model electoral code of conduct and the BJP will demand cancellation of Congress’ registration,” he said.

In Indore, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar, on Thursday, had referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s family while speaking about the falling value of Indian rupee, leading to the BJP leaders seeking his apology.

Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani on Friday termed Babbar’s comment repulsive and sought an apology from him.

The two statements have provided the BJP with ammunition to hit back at the Congress in the election-bound states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi accused the Congress of trying various ploys to gain power by dividing society and taking the electoral debate to a new low.

In a damage-control bid, Gandhi tweeted that Joshi’s statement was against the Congress party’s principles and asked him to apologise. “Joshi should realise his mistake and apologise for his statement,” Gandhi tweeted.

Joshi tweeted: “Respecting the ideals of the Congress…i apologise if my statement hurt any section of the society.” But he accused the BJP of fabricating his statement.

Responding to the remarks of two Congress leaders, former Union minister Anand Sharma said the party has not urged or authorised any of its members to make such comments. “Such comments should never be misconstrued as Congress party’s policy,” he said.