Congress leader Pawan Khera.
Credit: PTI File Photo
The Congress on Thursday indicated its strong disapproval of the remarks made by DMK leaders Udhayanidhi Stalin and A Raja on Sanatan Dharma, saying it believed in "Sarva Dharma Sambhav" (equal respect to all religions) and was against the treatment of any particular faith as inferior to another.
The grand old party's Media Department Chairperson Pawan Khera told a press conference that every I.N.D.I.A party has immense respect for every community, religion, and faith. His assertions came following Tamil Nadu Minister Udayanidhi Stalin's remarks that 'Sanatan Dharma' promoted division and discrimination among people and should be eradicated.
"The Congress has always believed in 'Sarva Dharma Sambhav' wherein every religion, every faith has its space. No one can treat any particular faith as less than another faith," he said to a question on the party's stand on the DMK leaders' remarks.
"Neither the Constitution allows this nor the Indian National Congress believes in any of these comments. If you know the history of the Indian National Congress you would know that we have always maintained (this stand) and you will find the same principles in the Constituent Assembly debates and the Constitution of India. There can never be a rethink on the Constitution as far as the Congress is concerned," he said.
Asked why the party had not condemned the remarks, he added, "I just said we do not agree with such comments."
Khera said there is no need to raise these issues with the DMK because "we know for a fact that each one of our constituents also respects every religion".
"Now if you want to twist anybody's remarks, you are free to do so. If it suits the Prime Minister, let him twist those remarks but every single member of the I.N.D.I.A alliance has immense respect for all communities, religions and faiths," he added.
Referring to Russian president Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping's absence from the G20 Summit, he said their decisions to skip the meet raises a lot of questions and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar should answer.
"Very good events are being organised on a large scale but the absence of two very important countries, heads of states, gives rise to a lot of questions and we hope that the Minister of External Affairs will respond to these questions," Khera said.
"We want to advise him that when the PM organises such big events with such large expenditure, the minister has a responsibility to ensure that all heads of state participate in it and benefit for India comes out of the rotational presidentship," the Congress leader said.