New Delhi, October 18: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad landed in a soup when he said that Hindus leaders of his party no longer invite him for campaiging, apparently because of his religious identity. The comments made by Azad didn't go well with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that accused the Congress of insulting the Hindu community.

"Since the days of the Youth Congress, I have been campaigning across the country from Andaman Nicobar to Lakshadweep. 95 per cent of those who used to call me were Hindu brothers and leaders, and just 5 per cent were Muslim brothers," Azad said in Lucknow on Wednesday. The opposition leader in Rajya Sabha further said those leader don't invite him now.

"But in the last four years, I have observed that the figure of 95 has dropped to just 20 per cent. This means that there is something wrong. Hindus in Congress don't invite me any more for campaigning because they think it may hit their votes," Azad added. Reacting to Azad's remarks, the BJP said it was an insult of the Hindu community.

The BJP accused the Congress of repeatedly demonising Hindus. "Yet another attempt by the Congress to malign the Hindus. Hindu-Terrorists, Hindu-Pakistan, Hindu-Taliban, Bad-Hindus want temple and now this," BJP spokesperson Smabit Patra tweeted. Ealrier, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor came under fire for using term 'Hindu-Pakistan'.

While the BJP demanded an apology from Tharoor, the Congress leader stood by his remarks that a BJP win in 2019 Lok Sabha polls will create conditions which would lead to creation of 'Hindu Pakistan'.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 18, 2018 01:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).