Banning RSS will be 'real tribute' to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Congress

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma, at a press conference, alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party does not have any idols of its own and highlighted that Patel was from the Congress and also a former president of the party.

The Congress on Tuesday said the "real tribute" to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel would be that his order banning the RSS should be placed at the foot of the 'Statue of Unity' in Gujarat.

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma, at a press conference, alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party does not have any idols of its own and highlighted that Patel was from the Congress and also a former president of the party.

His remarks came a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the world's tallest statue the 'Statue of Unity' at Kevadiya in Gujarat.

The 182-metre statue of Patel will be dedicated to the nation on his birth anniversary in Narmada District of Gujarat.

"Probably Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not know that after the Bardoli Satyagraha, the Father of the Nation gave the title of Sardar to Vallabh Bhai Patel and on 4th February 1948, Home Minister Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel had issued a handwritten order banning the RSS.

"My suggestion to the prime minister is...with the help of China, you can get the statue made, install it, but real tribute to Sardar Patel would be that he should put a bronze plate or a copper plate, on which Sardar Patel's order banning the RSS is written along with the correspondence between Sardar Patel and Guru Golwalkar, under the statue," Sharma said.

To a separate question on 2008 Malegaon blast case accused Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Sharma said terrorism in all its forms and manifestations has to be fought and condemned.

"We have always maintained as a party that terrorism has no religion, they actually do more harm to people they claim to represent nor do they have any mandate or sanction.

"As a rule-based, rule-governed society and a democracy, the due processes of law must follow and the judiciary is independent to punish and sentence anyone who is accused of the crime of committing acts of violence or terrorism in this country," he said.

A special court in Mumbai Tuesday framed charges in the 2008 Malegaon blast case against Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and five others for terror activities, criminal conspiracy and murder, among others.

To another question, Sharma said those who subscribe to the concept of 'Hindutva' cannot claim to represent the Hindus of this country.

"I come from the same faith and I am a practising Hindu, I have not given a right to them to describe as to who is 'Good Hindu' and who is not and what the 'Hindus' should do. Mixing electoral politics with religion is toxic, which can destroy the society," he said.

(With inputs from agencies.)