If you wish to wear saffron robes like an ascetic, then leave politics, says Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has a thorn in his side over Yogi Adityanath’s saffron robes

Mumbai – At the ‘Save the Constitution Convention’ held here, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticised Uttar Pradesh chief minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath’s saffron attire. Kharge remarked, “There is a leader who lives in the guise of a sadhu, yet has become a politician and even a chief minister. He wears saffron robes and keeps his head shaven. Such a leader has been created by the BJP. We have no objection to that. However, my message to the BJP is this: either make him wear white clothes, or if he insists on dressing like an ascetic in saffron, then he should step out of politics. When politicians wear saffron, what sanctity remains in those robes ? On one hand, you wear saffron; on the other, you criticise others, saying ‘batenge to katenge’ (divide and rule). Why, then, dress as an ascetic ? If people don’t defeat such leaders in elections and make them sit at home, Manusmriti will replace the Constitution, and they will become its custodians.”

Why doesn’t Congress object to maulavis’ attire ? – BJP

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla responded, “If attire is the issue, then why doesn’t Kharge mention maulavis ? This reveals Congress’s true DNA, which is anti-Hindu and anti-Sanatan. Congress has used terms like ‘saffron terror’ and ‘Hindu terror’ but avoids such language about other religions. This is Congress’s communal mindset. They see ‘batenge to katenge’ as communal, yet find ‘vote jihad’ secular.”