Clarion India

NEW DELHI — Lambasting the BJP-led central government for “weakening” and tearing apart” the secular foundation of the country, Mehbooba Mufto, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief, hailed senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for undertaking the Bharat Jodo Yatra to strengthen secularism and promote unity in the country.

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday said she salutes Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for undertaking the Bharat Jodo Yatra and claimed that the foundation of secularism has taken a hit in the last seven-eight years.

The former J and K chief minister also appreciated the gesture of Gandhi to pay tributes to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Speaking to reporters at the party headquarters in Jammu, Mehbooba said, “We salute Rahu Gandhi for undertaking Bharat Jodo Yatra to unite India and strengthen and nurture secularism and brotherhood in this country,” reports PTI.

“The foundation of secularism and brotherhood in India has been shaken and worsened in the last seven-eight years,” she said.

About Gandhi paying tributes to Vajpayee, the PDP chief said, “It is a good gesture to even pay respects to your opponents. This is the beauty of this country to even pay tributes to opponents, whether dead or alive. However, this is missing now.”

Mehbooba also paid tributes to Vajpayee on his birth anniversary and said he always looked above politics. (With agency inputs)