NEW DELHI, Nov 9: A political row erupted after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge described Diwali as 'Khushiyon Ka Eid' while extending greetings for the festival over the weekend.
The BJP objected to the phrase, while the Congress defended Kharge's remarks. BJP national media co-in-charge and spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari alleged that the Congress had linked a festival such as Diwali to vote-bank politics. He also described the party as anti-Sanatan.
Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said those creating a controversy over Kharge's remarks did not understand the meaning of the word 'Eid'.
In a post on X, Khera said the literal meaning of 'Eid' was festival and there was no need to misinterpret Kharge's statement. He said critics should bring some light into their thinking during Diwali and called them uneducated.
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia asked why Diwali, one of the biggest Hindu festivals, could not be called by its own name. He said Diwali and Eid had their own religious significance and traditions, and asked whether Rahul Gandhi and Kharge would call Eid 'Khushiyon Ki Diwali'.
Another BJP spokesperson, Tuhin Sinha, said Muslims celebrated Eid twice a year, but the Congress wanted to describe every Hindu festival as 'Khushiyon Ka Eid'.
