Uma Bharti's criticism of sub-quota 'highly deplorable': Congress

Congress on Wednesday termed as "highly deplorable" BJP leader Uma Bharti's criticism of the sub-quota for backdward Muslims that it could lead to another Partition.

"It is highly deplorable and condemnable that even the thought and phraseology of second Partition would enter political discourse. Those who are talking of mental partition stand exposed of their true face."

"Instead of levelling allegations against Congress, they should look within to see what has been their role in spreading communalism in the country since 1947," party spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters in Delhi.

He was responding to Bharti's allegations who said the religion-based quota for Muslims was a "dirty gameplan" of the Congress to divide the nation again.

"The nation is on the verge of another Partition - this time an ideological partition. BJP will not allow any such Partition on the basis of religion," Bharti said charging the Congress with playing "dirty politics" for petty political gains in Uttar Pradesh.

Reacting sharply to the allegation, Tewari said it was indeed "ironical" that people who have been accused of "injecting communal poison in body politik" are talking about a second Partition.

The Congress spokesperson also attacked BJP over media reports of arrest of right wing group Ram Sene activists in Bijapur in Karnatka for hoisting Pakistani flag to foment communal tension and later Sene putting the blame on RSS saying those arrested belonged to RSS and not Ram Sene.

"All this did not happen in a Congress-ruled state but in Karnataka where BJP is in power and between RSS and Ram Sene. It raises a question mark on organizations who talk of cultural nationalism but can stoop to this level to bake their political bread," Tewari said.