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| "Separatist Thinking in Parliament": Gaurav hits out at NC MP Ruhullah Mehdi | | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 9: BJP Spokesperson and Convener for International Affairs Gaurav Gupta on Monday delivered a scathing response to National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi after the latter declared in Parliament that he would "never" sing Vande Mataram. Gupta said Mehdi's remarks were "deeply alarming" and accused him of carrying a "separatist mindset that has no place in a democratic Parliament."
Gupta said Mehdi's stand reflects a "conscious attempt to distance himself from India's national identity," adding that Indian Muslims have historically stood at the forefront of the freedom struggle and continue to contribute to the nation's progress.
He said, "Indian Muslims fought for the freedom of this country together with everyone else. To pretend otherwise, and to reject national symbols that unite 140 crore Indians, reveals nothing but a separatist mindset. This is extremely unfortunate coming from an elected MP."
Gupta criticised Mehdi's pattern of statements, saying his speeches and interviews are "routinely laced with divisive undertones" and create friction instead of harmony.
He added, "Someone who enjoys all constitutional privileges and speaks in the Parliament of India should strengthen national unity, not chip away at it through provocative assertions. Rejecting Vande Mataram is not dissent it is a deliberate attempt to undermine the nation's collective identity."
Taking aim at what he called Mehdi's "selective morality," Gupta said leaders who frequently question India's cultural and national symbols have no hesitation in benefiting from institutions built by public devotion and religious offerings.
He said, "The constitutional oath taken by every MP is a commitment to India's sovereignty and unity. For someone to openly demean national symbols and still claim moral authority is unacceptable. If you choose to be a citizen of India, respecting its national identity is not optional." |
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