People who want to lecture on secularism can go to Pakistan: Uma Bharti

Muzaffarnagar: Union Minister Uma Bharti launched a scathing attack on the Congress, saying that those who wanted to lecture on secularism should go to Pakistan.

"During 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi had made development as an agenda. Previously, no such agenda was made. If you hear their speeches, they always say we are communal. When we talk of nationalism or chant Lord Ram or 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', they call us communal. They do not mention anything about Ram and 'roti' (food). They can only talk about secularism vs communalism," she said at a 'Vijay Sankalp Sabha' here on Sunday.

Bharti added, "India is the only country where we follow secularism. No need for anyone to tell us what is secularism all about. If you want to remind us or lecture on secularism, then go to Pakistan."

To press her point, Bharti, who was recently appointed as BJP's national vice president, recalled that she paid visits to Ajmer Sharif Dargah and Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai.

"Recently, I went to Ajmer Sharif Dargah and Haji Ali Dargah to offer my prayers. We respect all Gods. There is no need for us to be lectured on secularism," she said.

Asserting that the BJP government changed the face of Uttar Pradesh after coming to power in 2017, Bharti accused the previous SP and BSP governments of neglecting the lower class people.

In December last year, Bharti had announced to take a break from active politics to focus on the issue of Ram temple and cleaning of Ganga river. She had also announced that she would not contest the impending Lok Sabha polls, slated to be held in seven phases beginning from April 11 to May 19.

Talking about the Gurugram mob attack case, the Union Minister said that strict action will be taken against those behind the incident.

The case pertains to the members of a family being allegedly thrashed with sticks and swords by goons for playing cricket on Holi in Bhondsi area of Haryana.

A video of the incident, which surfaced on social media, purportedly showed a group of men attacking the family’s male members with sticks, even as the women pleaded to them to stop.