In an interesting turn of events, a senior leader of Indian ruling party has taken oath for what he termed an undivided India while sharing its map incorporating Bangladesh on Twitter.
Ever since being posted on Saturday afternoon, the tweet kept on garnering sharp criticism.
14th August is the day of solemn vow & oath for "#AkhandaBharatSankalpaDiwas (undivided Bharat)", the tweet of Dilip Ghosh, president of the West Bengal state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reads.
The call followed his claim in the same tweet: “From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Gandhar to Brahmadesh, this is our Bharatbarsha, this is our holy motherland."
"From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Gandhar to Brahmadesh, this is our Bharatbarsha, this is our holy motherland."
— Dilip Ghosh (@DilipGhoshBJP) August 14, 2021
14th August is the day of solemn vow & oath for
" #AkhandaBharatSankalpaDiwas (undivided Bharat)". pic.twitter.com/zjQkxLTRWy
This is not the first time such a gaffe has been made. Maps showing Bangladesh as being part of India are very often shared by the Hindu right wing leaders on social media.
Basically, Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has been patronizing the concept of an undivided India, which is strongly backed by many senior and key BJP leaders including Amit Shah.
Dilip’s tweet coincides with the celebration of “Akhand Bharat Day” by the RSS and its affiliates celebrated on Saturday. The day was supposed on be marked in many other places on Sunday, when India observes its Independence Day.
Many BJP leaders have also posted on social media in support of the RSS’s program.
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Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared August 14 as “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day” to acknowledge the suffering of citizens during a traumatic period in history on Saturday.
Modi and his party, BJP, have themselves been accused of diving India along religious lines.
The reactions
One of the Twitter users named Pradeep wrote: “Go to Pakistan and contest in election there. Why are you here in India? Once you win there you can plan for the Akhand Bharat.”
Another account named after Bumble Bee tweeted: “Pls immediately leave for Afganistan they need people like you to fight Taliban. Afterall its a part of your Akhanda Bharat.”
Many Bangladeshis also expressed their resentment on the BJP leader’s tweet.
“As a Bangladeshi I used to get angry at such insensitive take on my country's sovereignty.
Now I am just amused at these clowns day dreaming,” Sadab Adhit mentioned.
However, many defended Dilip’s tweet, pledging to help implement the plan.
