‘Derogatory, unfortunate’: BJP hits back at Kharge over ‘gerua’ clothes remark against UP CM Yogi Adityanath | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday launched an all-out attack on Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge over his remarks against Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and accusing the opposition party of being “anti-Hindu” and “anti-Sanatan”.
In his speech at an election rally in Maharashtra, Kharge without taking names took a dig at Uttar Pradesh CM saying, “Many leaders live in the guise of sadhus and have now become politicians. Some have even become chief ministers. They wear ‘gerua’ clothes and have no hair on their heads… I would say to the BJP, either wear white clothes or if you are a sanyasi, wear ‘gerua’ clothes, but then get out of politics. On the one hand, you wear ‘gerua’ clothes and on the other hand, you say ‘batoge toh katogey’… They are spreading hatred among the people and trying to divide them.”
Union minister and senior BJP leader Piyush Goyal opposed Kharge’s remarks, asserting that clothing choices should remain personal decisions.
“This should be a matter of personal choice for every individual. A lot of derogatory comments have been made about Yogi Adityanath’s attire and his appearance. They say that if he wants to remain the Chief Minister, he should abandon his saffron robes, wear white clothes, and enter politics; otherwise, he should leave politics,” Goyal said.
“It is very unfortunate that a person who has dedicated his entire life to serving society, has renounced worldly pleasures, and entered politics intending to serve society, is being subjected to such criticism. When I visited the Gorakhnath Math myself, I saw people from different religions there, which I think shows his inclusiveness” he added.
‘Congress is anti-Hindu and anti-Sanatan’
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla condemned Kharge’s remarks, saying that the Congress party’s stance reflects an anti-Hindu bias. “This is the true philosophy and DNA of Congress which is anti-Hindu and anti-Sanatan,” said Poonawalla. He argued that Congress selectively targets Hindu symbols while refraining from making similar comments about other religious attire. “Will they ever say this about Maulanas and Maulvis?” he questioned.
Poonawalla further criticised Congress’s history of using terms like “saffron terrorism” during its tenure in power.
“This is the same Congress that spoke about ‘saffron terrorism’, and ‘Hindu terror’…they will never say such things about other faiths, it shows how Congress hurt the Hindu faith for votes of their votebank,” Poonawalla said.
BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari, backed Poonawalla’s statements, saying that Kharge’s statements exemplify Congress’s “hatred towards Sanatana Dharma.” Speaking to ANI, Bhandari said, “Mallikarjun Kharge has hatred towards Sanatana Dharma, he hates saffron that’s why he used terms like saffron terrorism during Congress rule. Congress has a problem with each and everything that is associated with Sanatana Dharma.”
In his Maharashtra speech, Kharge had also criticised BJP’s slogans, calling them dangerous to the nation’s unity.
“BJP is coming up with new slogans these days. I just want to ask, is there any danger in the country? If the country is in danger, it is from BJP-RSS. These are the people who talk about division and killing from morning to evening. We have always tried to keep the country united. Indira Gandhi ji was martyred for keeping the country united,” the Congress chief said.