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Swarajya Staff
Jun 17, 2024, 03:02 PM | Updated 03:02 PM IST
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The Kerala unit of Congress has apologised to the Christian community after the BJP raised objections to a post about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Pope Francis.
On Sunday (16 June), the state Congress unit shared a photo of the PM meeting the Pope with the caption, "Finally, the Pope got a chance to meet God."
The state BJP had called the Congress post an "insult" to the Christian community.
"This tweet by the Congress equates Prime Minister Modi to Lord Jesus. This is absolutely uncalled for and is an insult to the Christian community, who revere Jesus. It is shameful that Congress has stooped to this level," said Union Minister and BJP leader George Kurian.
State BJP chief K Surendran also criticised Congress for mocking the Pope and the Christian community.
"The @INCIndia Kerala 'X' handle, seemingly run by radical Islamists or Urban Naxals, continues to post derogatory and humiliating content against nationalistic leaders. Now, it has even stooped to mocking the respected Pope and the Christian community. It's certain that the AICC General Secretary from Kerala, @kcvenugopalmp, is aware of this. The question is, what are @RahulGandhi and @kharge's interests in supporting this?" said Surendran.
The Kerala Congress issued an apology last night, emphasising that insulting any religion is not part of its tradition.
The apology issued by Kerala Congress stated, "The entire people of this country know that it is not the tradition of the Indian National Congress to insult and disparage any religion, religious priests, and idols. Congress is a movement that unites all religions and faiths and leads the people forward in a friendly atmosphere."
It continued, "No Congress worker would even entertain the remotest thought of insulting the Pope, whom Christians around the world see as God-like. However, the Congress has no qualms about mocking Narendra Modi, who insults the believers of this country by calling himself God."
"We apologise unreservedly if this post has caused any emotional or psychological distress to Christians," the post concluded.