Congress leader CP Joshi gets notice from Election Commission on ‘Brahmins’ remark

Top Congress leader CP Joshi has received a notice from the Election Commission for his controversial comments that “only Brahmins know enough to talk about Hinduism”. He has been directed to reply by 11 pm on Sunday.

Apparently, Mr Joshi is contesting the December 7 Rajasthan Assembly elections from Nathdwara constituency.

A controversy broke out after a video was tweeted by a BJP lawmaker, wherein it showed the former union minister’s comments at an election rally in Nathdwara. The video also showed that Mr Joshi was lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union minister Uma Bharti.

Mr Joshi is seen in the video saying, “Uma Bharti is a Lodhi, and she talks about Hinduism, Modi ji talks about Hinduism. It’s only Brahmins who don’t talk about it. In 50 years they have lost their mind. The country is being misled… Religion and governance are two different things. Everyone has the right to practice their religion.”

He also said, “They say a Congress leader can’t be a Hindu. Who gave them the authority to issue certificates? Have they opened a university? If anyone knows about religion in this country then its Pandits, Brahmins.”

However, Congress president Rahul Gandhi took cognisance of the matter and has rebuked Mr Joshi and asked him to apologise for his controversial comment, which the Rajasthan leader duly did in a tweet.

Rahul Gandhi tweeted in swift damage control mode, “CP Joshi’s comments are against the Congress party’s principles. No party leader should make statements that hurt any section of the society.”

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi’s intervention didn’t impress BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra, who ‘challenged’ the Congress to ‘sack CP Joshi within one hour’.

On regards to the Rajasthan Assemble elections 2018, the Congress sees a good chance of snatching Rajasthan from the BJP, on the back of anti-incumbency sentiment. Though, this was not the first embarrassing video it has confronted in its campaign for polls in Rajasthan and three other states.

Recently, Congress party’s Madhya Pradesh chief Kamal Nath was caught on video apparently saying if Muslims didn’t vote en masse for the Congress, it is doomed.

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