Deputy Commissioner Rahul is an example of separatism in Indian politics: BJP (file photo)
PTI, New Delhi. Strongly criticizing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's accusation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "suppressing the voice of Tamil people", BJP has termed his statement as "extremely shameful and baseless".
BJP national spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan described the Congress MP as a "fitting example" of separatism in Indian politics and urged him to avoid indulging in divisive politics in the name of region, language and caste.
The reaction came a day after Rahul alleged that the central government tried to stop actor-turned-politician Vijay's film "Jana Nayakan".
Rahul had called it an attack on Tamil culture and said that Prime Minister Modi would never succeed in "suppressing the voice of Tamil people".
Hitting back at the Congress leader, Guru Prakash said in a press conference here that this statement is beyond reality or logic. Urging Rahul to "refrain from making such comments", the BJP spokesperson said the sensitivity shown by Prime Minister Modi towards Tamil language, culture and heritage in the last 11 years is unprecedented.
He said the Prime Minister has promoted Tamil identity on global platforms and recently during the 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' program had urged students from North India to learn Tamil language.
Guru Prakash alleged that people with "separatist tendencies" and "anti-national mentality" keep using region, language and caste to indulge in "political mayhem". Rahul Gandhi's past record shows high level of "insensitivity".
BJP counterattacks on Rahul's statement on industrial development
A war has erupted between BJP and Congress over the speech given by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi during his Tamil Nadu tour. In his speech, Rahul compared the industrial development of India and China and said that even common items like microphones and cameras have to be imported from China. The leader of the opposition had raised questions on the industrial policy of the central government regarding this. Delhi State BJP President Virendra Sachdeva has said that Rahul Gandhi has got into the habit of presenting India's image in a bad light. Wherever he goes, he does the same thing. In fact, Rahul is playing into the hands of foreign powers.