Pune (Maharashtra) [India], November 8 (ANI): Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat on Friday said the party has never incited conflicts based on religion or caste, and criticized the BJP for practicing divisive politics.

"Congress has never made anyone fight. Congress has neither made anyone fight based on religion nor based on caste. BJP does this... BJP is campaigning in a very wrong way," said Thorat. He added that the ruling party was making false accusations while continuing to divide communities.

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"The BJP always creates divisions within religions, pits people against each other, and stirs up caste-based conflicts," Thorat further added.

Thorat also highlighted the progressive legacy of the Thackeray family. The Congress leader said, "The father of Bal Thackeray was a progressive leader in Maharashtra, and that progressive spirit continues in their blood, working in alignment with common progressive programs."

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Addressing the BJP's accusations of "vote jihad" and the "Bantenge to Katenge" campaign slogan, Thorat asked, "If the first time it was about vote jihad, then the onions they voted for--will that be called 'onion jihad'? If farmers voted for us, would that be 'farmer jihad'? If our mothers and sisters voted for us, would that be called 'mother-sister jihad'?"

Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls on October 22, posters featuring Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the slogan "Bantenge to Katenge" appeared in various parts of Mumbai.

BJP member Vishwabandhu Rai had then explained the motive behind the posters. Speaking to ANI he said, "The opposition is engaging in political maneuvers, and we have responded to that. The people of North India believe in Yogi and his slogan 'Bantenge to Katenge,' so we have started to respond to the opposition's tactics in Maharashtra as well. In Haryana, you saw how people stood together and supported the Bharatiya Janata Party. We are now applying this in Maharashtra." (ANI)

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