Nitin Gadkari

New Delhi: Union minister Nitin Gadkari’s recent statement has once again generated controversy after the Congress party claimed that his comment on casteism was a “direct attack” on the ideology of his party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Meanwhile, Gadkari on Monday hit out at the Congress for indulging in “cheap politics” and promoting “hatred.”

Addressing a gathering in Pune on Sunday, the senior BJP leader had said, "We do not believe in casteism...I do not know about you but there is no place for caste in our five districts because I have warned everybody that if anyone talks about caste, I will thrash him."

In response to his comment, the Madhya Pradesh Congress tweeted yesterday that Gadkari had once again "directly attacked" Narendra Modi and the BJP. It said in the tweet, "Gadkari Ji has spoken out against the politics of religion - a policy followed by the BJP. Gadkari ji, When will you thrash those who ask for votes in the name of Hanuman Ji's religion?"

The Congress party was referring to the recent comments by the BJP leaders on Lord Hanuman's caste. While Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath had called the deity a Dalit, BJP MP Hari Om Pandey had claimed that the Hindu god was a Brahmin.

However, the Union Minister lashed out at the Congress for its allegations. In a tweet on Monday, he said, “It is unfortunate that cheap politics is what has become the identity of the country's oldest party. Congress' politics is now restricted to spewing falsehoods and twisting statements. This party is breaking its own record in indulging in politics of hatred and patting its own back."

Previously, the Congress had "lauded" Gadkari, claiming that the Union Minister had taken a swipe at the BJP. Gadkari had said, "one who cannot manage his home cannot manage the country. Hence first manage your home and look after your children properly, then work for the party and country."

Reacting to this, Congress President Rahul Gandhi had tweeted, “Gadkari Ji, compliments! You are the only one in the BJP with some guts, “while also asking him to comment on the Rafale scam, destruction of institutions and farmers’ distress.

