Rahul Gandhi conspiring to divide India: BJP Minister Giriraj Singh

Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Giriraj Singh on Monday accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi of conspiring to "divide India".

Minister Giriraj Singh. Photo: File

New Delhi: Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Giriraj Singh on Monday accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi of conspiring to "divide India". Speaking to ANI, Singh said, "There is a conspiracy going on in this country to divide India. This has started after Rahul Gandhi held a meeting with Muslim intellectuals. He is influencing these Muslim intellectuals to destroy the nation. This is his conspiracy to destroy B.R. Ambedkar's Constitution". He further said, "Rahul Gandhi should apologise to people for the same. India will never allow what he is trying to do, to make a different law for Muslims. It will be better if the Opposition discusses development agenda in Parliament rather than attacking the government." This is not the first time when the BJP leader who holds independent charge of the ministry criticised Rahul Gandhi. In a media interaction yesterday, Giriraj Singh said: "Rahul Gandhi talks about Ambedkar and (Mahatma) Gandhi. But they never said to divide the country again or set up Sharia courts across India." On Sunday, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) clarified that no proposal was made to set up Sharia courts in all districts across the country. "We have never talked about setting up Sharia courts in all districts across the country. Our motive is to set them up in places where it is required and where people want them," Zafaryab Jilani, member of the AIMPLB told ANI. Jilani further clarified that Sharia boards were not courts. He criticised the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of politicising the matter. Earlier this month, the AIMPLB had proposed to set up Sharia courts in all districts in the country to resolve all issues within the Islamic law instead of approaching other courts. However, the proposal has largely been rejected by political parties and Islamic organisations.