Sanjay Nirupam calls Kharge an atheist for his 'tamasha' comment

Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam, on Wednesday, called his senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge an atheist for mocking Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s ‘Shastra Puja’ ceremony while accepting Rafale fighter aircraft in France and calling it a "tamasha" (drama).

'Not everyone in Congress is atheist'

While saying that it cannot be a drama, Nirupam said that, "Shastra Puja' is an old tradition of our country." He also said that the problem is that Kharge ji is an atheist, while adding that not everyone is an atheist in the Congress party.  

Nirupam added, "Out of the entire population of the country, only 1 per cent population would be atheist. The opinion of the atheist cannot be imposed on the deist. At least it should not be imposed on Congress party.”

READ | 'BJP and other oppositions spinning stories about Congress': Kharge

Through a tweet, Nirupam also said that he is supporting the tradition and not the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. He also said that Indian traditions are far bigger than any individual.

The mockery started when, during his three-day visit to France, Rajnath emblazoned the Rafale aircraft with an 'Om' and laid flowers, coconut and lemons to ward off the evil eye. Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while speaking at a public gathering in Bhiwani, Haryana gave a befitting reply to Congress and said that Congress has no fault in looking at it as drama. He further said that the party values culture of Italy more and knows little about the Indian culture.

READ | Sanjay Nirupam attacks Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Twitter

Singh was in France to receive the first of the 36 French-built Rafale fighter jet bearing the tail number RB-001, that was formally handed over to India on Tuesday. The Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for 36 Rafale aircraft procurement was signed between the Government of India and the Government of France on September 23, 2016.

READ | Sanjay Nirupam makes dire poll forecast for Congress, attacks Kharge

READ | Ayodhya Case: Mallikarjun Kharge says 'case is pending in the court'

(With ANI Inputs)