Congress anti-Muslim: BJP after Goa leader's suspension

New Delhi, Jul 5 (PTI) The BJP launched an attack on the Congress on Sunday over its decision to suspend its Goa minority department chairman Wasim Khan and dissolve the state minority department committee, alleging that the opposition party is "anti-Muslim" and intolerant of dissent. The remarks came after the Congress suspended Khan with immediate effect on Sunday over alleged acts of indiscipline and anti-party activities. The party also dissolved the Goa Minority Department Committee with immediate effect until further orders and appointed Nazir A Khan as the convenor of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Minority Department. BJP's national spokesperson Shehzaad Poonawalla claimed that Khan was suspended after he questioned the Congress leadership over the alleged neglect of minority leaders and said the action exposes the "true face" of the party. "The Goa Congress minority chief had made a statement about how he was ill-treated, insulted and pushed away at a Congress meeting. And for saying the truth, he has been given a fatwa of suspension," Poonawalla alleged in a video statement. He claimed that the Congress projects itself as a champion of Muslims in public but "hates Muslims" in practice and wants them only as a vote bank. "The Congress talks a lot about Muslims in front of the camera. But in reality, it hates Muslims. It is the biggest poison for Muslims," Poonawalla said. He also alleged that the Congress has an "Emergency-era intolerance mindset" and suppresses freedom of speech within the party. "This is the Congress's Emergency-era intolerance mindset and also shows that it hates Muslims. It wants Muslims only to lay the carpet for it, not to ask for any commitment, patronage, post or platform. If they do, they are subjected to humiliation," he alleged. Referring to past incidents of communal unrest, Poonawalla alleged that the "biggest riots against Muslims" took place during the Congress rule and said the party's "mohabbat ki dukan" is, in reality, one of "nafrat" (hatred). He also accused the Congress of being undemocratic and intolerant of internal criticism. "Those who talk about liberal, democratic and progressive values and freedom of speech should answer this -- where is the freedom of speech here? Where is the tolerance? Where is democracy? This is the true face of the Congress," the BJP leader alleged. PTI ADI RC