Political sparring intensified Thursday as VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal mocked AIMIM’s Ramadan liquor shop closure plea, drawing parallels to paradisiacal promises in Islamic lore. The remarks, amid rising demands for religious accommodations, underscore India’s complex secular fabric.
In an IANS interview, Bansal laid bare the contradiction: ‘AIMIM preaches no alcohol in life but covets wine rivers, houris, and eternal youth in afterlife. They radicalize youth via jihad for this. Clarify if jannat booze is desired— if so, spare earthly shops.’
He extended criticism to policy matters, opposing Maharashtra’s floated idea of Ramadan leaves for Muslims, akin to Telangana. ‘This fosters partition-like divisions. Reject communal sops. Abu Azmi, advocate of such perks, carries terrorist baggage—rethink before proposing.’
Bansal reserved barbs for Jamiat’s Maulana Madani, who fumed over ‘ghar wapsi’. ‘Guide youth to virtue, not fury. Boasting invincibility yet quaking at homecoming reveals true colors.’
These pointed attacks reflect VHP’s aggressive Hindutva posture against perceived Islamist overreach. AIMIM’s appeal taps into minority sentiments, but Bansal’s rebuttal amplifies majority concerns over equity. As holy month nears, stakeholders watch how governments navigate these pressures without alienating communities. The episode signals escalating pre-election posturing.