Congress condemns Kerala incident, says BJP playing politics of polarisation

New Delhi, May 29 (IANS) Condemning the act of its four youth wing members in publicly killing an ox in Kerala as part of protest against new cattle slaughter rules, the Congress on Monday slammed the BJP for trying to "regressively play politics of polarisation" and indulging in "doublespeak and deception".

Congress, which has suspended the members in question, said it has also initiated an inquiry into the incident.

"India's ethos and Congress party's culture abjures any kind of violence or barbarism against every living being much less the cow, which has a special place in the hearts and mind of people of India," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala in a statement.

"The horrific incident in Kerala is reprehensible and absolutely condemnable. Such action is alien to our way of life. Such elements have no place in the Congress party. The Youth Congress has therefore suspended the so-called activists," he added.

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi had earlier tweeted: "What happened in Kerala yesterday (Saturday) is thoughtless, barbaric and completely unacceptable to me and the Congress party. I strongly condemn the incident."

Congress, however, hit out at he BJP is trying to regressively play politics of polarisation to shamelessly divert attention from its anti-Dalit atrocities and practice of untouchability by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

"It is tragic that UP CM Adityanath's administration forced the poorest of the poor of Dalit community of 'Musahar' to first bathe with soap, sprinkle perfume so as to allegedly avoid the bad odour emanating from their 'dirty clothes', as the UP CM visited them," said Surjewala.