BJP hits out at Congress over remarks on Army, Ram Temple trust CEO pick

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday accused the Congress of harbouring an "anti-Army" and "anti-Shri Ram Temple" mindset, responding to questions raised by Congress leader Rashid Alvi over the appointment of Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra (Retd.) as the first CEO of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

Speaking at a press briefing, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said Mr. Alvi's remarks reflected the Congress's attitude of insulting the Indian Army and the Shri Ram Temple. He described the comments as evidence of a "dimagi Naxal" (ideological Naxal) mindset. Mr. Alvi is currently not a spokesperson or office-bearer in the Congress party.

Mr. Trivedi drew a contrast with past Congress positions, claiming that the party had previously called Lord Ram imaginary, denied the existence of Ayodhya, and insulted the city. He also referenced historical allegations, stating that the same people had spoken of turning the Sarayu river red with blood.

The BJP leader further alleged that Congress leaders had demanded proof of the surgical strike and the Balakot airstrike, and had referred to a former Army chief as a "sadakchhap gunda" (street thug). He also cited Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu's visit to Pakistan, where he hugged Pakistan's Army chief Qamar Bajwa.

Addressing Mr. Alvi's remarks about Mahmud of Ghazni, Mr. Trivedi asserted that Ghazni, Ghori, and Babur came to destroy temples and break idols, not merely to loot them. He dismissed the alternative view as "Leftist nonsense" propagated by "urban Naxals" and "dimagi Naxals."