Congress demands apology from Modi for ‘trivialising’ freedom struggle

New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) The Congress on Friday demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remark that BJP leaders suffered more after Independence "than what Congress did under the British", saying that he has trivialised the freedom struggle.

The Congress also attacked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), saying that it "was a non-participant" in India's freedom struggle and had on critical occasions also supported the British government as a "collaborator".

"It does not behove the Prime Minister to lower the dignity of his Office by making a statement which is factually incorrect and insult to the freedom fighters, and thousands of others who made manifold sacrifices during India's national struggle," said senior Congress spokesperson and Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma.

"He has made a shocking comparison, trivialising the freedom struggle, insulting our National heroes for which he must not only withdraw that shameful statement but apologise," he added.

He said the BJP and RSS were non-participants in India's freedom struggle and on critical occasions supported the British Government and therefore, the word 'collaborator', is the correct word for them.

"They are the ideological descendants of those non-participants and those who opposed Mahatma Gandhi," said Sharma.