BJP transforming India into Hindu kingdom: Lal Thanhawla

Aizawl: Former Mizoram chief minister and state Congress president Lal Thanhawla on Friday accused the BJP of attempting to establish a religion-based kingdom in the country.

Addressing a political session at Congress Bhavan in Aizawl, the veteran Congress leader said even many of the Hindus do not endorse the BJP’s Hindutva policy and its bid to transform India into a Hindu kingdom.

He also slammed the BJP for its manifesto released recently.

Comparing India with a garden where there are different types of flowers, Lal Thanhawla said there are many other religious minorities in the country and an attempt to make it as a particular community or religious kingdom would also result in national disintegration.

Lal Thanhawla said that both former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani were much better than Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. He added that the BJP was less communal at the time of Vajpayee and Advani.

The 80-year-old Congress leader also slammed Modi government for its alleged “fake promises.”

Stating that people are not happy with Modi’s report card, the BJP government has failed to fulfill it promises during five years of its rule.

Lal Thanhawla alleged that the country faced worst unemployment problem and economic recession during five years of BJP regime. He expressed hope that the Congress led UPA would come back to power in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The five-time former chief minister of Mizoram also accused current chief minister and MNF president Zoramthanga of having criminal case for having disproportionate assets worth Rs 900 crore.

While slamming the ruling MNF for flagging the liquor issue before the state assembly polls last year, he said no country has so far successfully prohibited alcohol. He claimed that even the churches were no more worried about the liquor.

Meanwhile, Lal Thanhawla thanked the people and officials for peaceful election to the lone Lok Sabha seat held on Thursday. He lauded Mizoram People’s Forum (MPF), a church sponsored poll watchdog and civil societies for their efforts towards peaceful polling.