New Delhi, Nov 10 — Congress MP Imran Masood has triggered a political controversy with his remark that "Diwali ho ya pradushan jo hai, manav janit rog hai" (whether it is Diwali or pollution, it is a human-induced disease).
The statement drew a sharp reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused the Congress leader of insulting Hindu religious beliefs, Sanatan Dharma and India's civilisational traditions.
The BJP also alleged that the remark reflected the Congress party's "appeasement politics" and "vote-bank mindset".
Speaking to IANS, Masood had criticised the BJP for alleging that the Opposition was attempting to create an anti-Hindu narrative by linking the celebration of Diwali with pollution.
Responding to the controversy, the Congress MP had told IANS, "These (BJP) people are mentally disturbed. They only speak negatively. Diwali ho ya pradushan jo hai, manav janit rog hai (Whether it is Diwali or pollution, these are human-induced diseases), and people need to become aware. Whether it is their government or ours, the government will not do much about these issues. People themselves need to become aware."
The BJP strongly objected to the Congress MP's remarks, accusing him of equating a major Hindu festival with a disease.
BJP National Spokesperson Prem Shukla described the statement as an indication of what he alleged was the Congress party's hostility towards Hindu traditions and religious practices.
Speaking to IANS, Shukla said, "The way Congress leader Imran Masood has described Diwali as a disease proves that the Congress is severely afflicted by the disease of Islamophobia. Such is the religious fanaticism that it considers the festivals of Hindus and Sanatanis a disease. It is necessary to free the country from this disease called Congress."
BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also launched a strong attack on the Congress, alleging that Masood's remarks reflected the party's broader approach towards Hindu religious traditions, adding that the Congress leadership was driven by "vote-bank" considerations.
Speaking to IANS, Bhandari said, "The people who are suffering from the disease of vote-bank politics, they cannot respect the Sanatan. The words are Imran Masood's, but the thought process of vote bank politics is of the Gandhi-Vadra family. This is why Kharge ji linked Diwali with Eid. This is the same Congress party that called Hindus violent and associated them with terrorism."
He also alleged that the Congress party's political approach had repeatedly hurt Hindu sentiments and claimed that Masood's remarks were another example of its alleged appeasement politics.
"Because of this vote-bank mindset, which Imran Masood has made evident by supporting prayers on roads and comparing Diwali to a disease, the Congress party will lose the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections as well as the 2029 Lok Sabha elections," he added.