Hyderabad, June 9: Hyderabad lawmaker Asaduddin Owaisi launched a blistering attack on the Congress for failing to prevent former president Pranab Mukherjee from attending a premier event organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Nagpur.

Owaisi, who heads the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), said the "ideological bankruptcy" of the Congress is exposed after "its most senior leader" attended the event hosted by the right-wing RSS.

"Congress is finished. What could you expect from a party whose senior most leader, Pranab Mukherjee - who has served as a top Minister in most Congress-led governments, who has served as the former president - visits the RSS headquarters. Do you still have hopes from this party," Owaisi said while addressing a largely Muslim gathering at his home constituency.

Mukherjee, who was invited at RSS' swayamsevaks graduation day programme as the chief guest, drew sharp reactions from within the Congress. Although the former president is no longer a member of the party, he is considered to be an ideologue of the Nehruvian outfit, having been associated with it for over 50 years.

In his speech at the RSS event, Mukherjee emphasised on the need to recognise the "multiple identities" in India, along with its "unity in diversity". Quoting Jawaharlal Nehru's 'Discovery of India', Mukherjee said the "Indian national identity is based upon the identities of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs combined".

Commenting on Pranab's visit, BJP patriarch LK Advani said it was a "significant event in contemporary history", adding that the process of dialogue between ideological adversaries should continue.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 09, 2018 10:03 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).