The controversy erupted after Rathore, speaking at a seminar organised at the BJP state headquarters to mark former president A P J Abdul Kalam's birth anniversary on Thursday, said that he would support Pakistan if it played against the US because Pakistan was India's neighbour.
NEW DELHI: Congress workers vandalised the BJP office in Rajasthan's Ajmer on Saturday, pasting posters, smearing them with black ink and writing slogans on the walls to protest against state BJP president Madan Rathore's controversial remarks about Pakistan. The protesters also burnt Rathore's posters and put up Youth Congress flags at the BJP office.The Youth Congress workers raised slogans against Rathore and attempted to throw black ink on the office signboard. The protest followed a row over his remarks that he would support Pakistan if it played against the US, as Pakistan was India's neighbour.Youth Congress coordinator Mohit Malhotra accused Rathore of supporting Pakistan. Defending the protest, he said it was against the BJP leader's remarks in support of the neighbouring country."If Madan Rathore supports Pakistan, he should go to Pakistan," Malhotra said.The Congress also shared a video of the protest on social media, accusing the BJP of showing support for Pakistan. "Rajasthan BJP President Madan Rathore has spoken of supporting that Pakistan which orchestrated the murder of Indian citizens," the party said in its post.
"Against this Pakistan love of the BJP, IYC comrades raised a massive ruckus outside the BJP office," it added."It is clear that treason and betrayal run through every vein of the BJP, the proof of which is once again before us," the post said. "Such anti-national thinking cannot be forgiven."The controversy began on Thursday when Rathore addressed a seminar at the BJP's state headquarters to mark the birth anniversary of former president APJ Abdul Kalam. He said he would support Pakistan if it played against the US because Pakistan was India's neighbour.Rathore also said that people who burst crackers to celebrate India's defeat against Pakistan could not be considered patriots.Following the backlash, Rathore said his remarks had been distorted and presented out of context.
Vijaya Srivastava is a journalist and feature writer whose expertise lies in covering human-centred developments. Her stories explore how policy, technology, economic shifts and social change influence people's everyday lives. Her work also focuses on bringing depth, context and a human perspective to complex issues. Her reports primarily cover society, healthcare, safety, public policy and emerging trends, alongside other political developments.