"Is it their own manifesto or the Muslim League's...": Nadda accuses Congress of appeasement politics

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda on Monday attacked the Congress over its Lok Sabha election manifesto, alleging that the party had resorted to appeasement politics and that its document reflected the ideology of Muslim League.
"Congress has been rejected by people repeatedly yet they are insistent on politics of appeasement. I saw the Congress manifesto, I was surprised, is it their manifesto or that of the Muslim League? To divide the country and grab power, to what extent Congress can go, this cannot be predicted," Nadda said.
"The Muslim League which had talked about reservation on the basis of religion in 1929, the Congress is repeating the same thing. It is difficult to imagine where Congress will take the country in its greed for power. Today, the way there is talk of giving reservation on the basis of religion and the promise of increasing reservation beyond 50 per cent, who is to be benefitted, Congress should make it clear," he added.
PM Modi also alleged that the Congress-led UPA government had brought a bill "which was against the majority community" and added that it was not passed by parliament.
"The Congress intentions became clear. The way they are doing politics and strategy against majoritism and indulging in appeasement, the country has not forgiven them and will not forgive them. They want the country may be divided but their hunger for power should not finish."
Nadda also attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for Congress flags missing at the roadshow before he filed his nomination papers for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. Indian Union Muslim League is part of the Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kerala.
"Rahul Gandhi should answer why Congress flags were absent during the roadshow for filing nomination papers in Wayanad. How far will this appeasement politics go? This attempt to divide the nation and bow to appeasement, the country will not forgive. The way Congress has talked of appeasement and reservation, they will have to clarify. They will have to tell the nation that this politics of greed for power in which you are trying to divide the society, the country will never forgive," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also attacked Congress over its manifesto in his election rallies.
In his rally in Saharanpur on April 6, PM Modi said the opposition party is cut off from the hopes and aspirations of today's India and its manifesto reflects the thinking that Muslim League had during the freedom movement.
He said the manifesto "completely bears the imprint of the Muslim League" and the remaining part is dominated by the Leftists.
The Congress released its manifesto on Friday last. The party's manifesto states that it will pass a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs
The manifesto also states that the reservation of 10 per cent in jobs and educational institutions for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) will be implemented for all castes and communities without discrimination.
Lok Sabha polls will be held in seven phases from April 19.