'Racist mentality': BJP hits out at Tejashwi's 'Chinese version of Yogi' remark at Himanta

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacked on Saturday the INDIA bloc following remarks made by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, who referred to Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as the "Chinese version of Yogi."
BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla drew parallels between Tejashwi Yadav's comment and the racist remarks made by Sam Pitroda, the Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress, in May.Poonawalla accused the INDIA bloc of harboring a racist mentality, suggesting that Pitroda's influence has permeated Yadav's mindset.
"Tejashwi Yadav labels Assam CM @himantabiswa as a “Chinese” because he is an Assamese and from the North-East! This reflects racist mentality of the INDI Alliance & it seems Sam Pitroda has taken over mindspace of Tejaswi when he makes such racist comments Does Rahul Gandhi , Gaurav Gogoi endorse this as “Muhabbat ki Dukaan” Will they end ties with RJD for such unconstitutional, anti Bharat Jodo, racist and hateful comments ?" BJP leader said in a post.

The controversy arose after the Assam assembly decided to discontinue the practice of a two-hour adjournment for Jumma prayers on Fridays, a tradition that had been introduced by the Muslim League government in colonial Assam.
Tejashwi accused Sarma of seeking "cheap popularity" and alleged that the BJP aims to harass Muslims in various ways. He further claimed that the BJP uses Muslim brothers as soft targets to spread hatred, attract the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah, and polarize society.
"In an attempt to gain cheap popularity and become the 'Chinese version of Yogi,' the chief minister of Assam deliberately keeps doing acts that harass Muslims. The people of BJP have made Muslim brothers a soft target to spread hatred, attract the attention of Modi-Shah and polarize the society," Yadav said while speaking to reporters in Patna on Friday.

"People of all religions, except RSS, have a hand in the independence of the country. Our Muslim brothers have made sacrifices in getting the country freedom and as long as we are here, no one can harm them," he added.