Kolkata: The pride and respect of the nation was at stake in next Lok Sabha elections, BJP National Secretary Varun Gandhi said on Monday and slammed the Congress for 'creating a communal divide' in the country for the sake of what he called vote-bank politics.
"The next parliamentary elections is not about you and me. It is an election where the pride and respect of the nation is at stake. We have to promise one thing that we will not allow the country to go into wrong hands. We have to save the honour and pride of our nation," said Gandhi while addressing party workers here.
Gandhi, who is at present on a two day tour of West Bengal, without naming the Congress criticised it for allegedly creating a political divide in the country for its own vested political interests.
"There are some political parties which tries to create communal divide by favouring one community and insulting one community, for small political gains. If such things continue then it will damage our country," he said.
"We are a party where we honour people from each and every community. We are not against any religion. We don't believe in creating communal divide between two communities. We believe in equal rights. It should not affect us whether a person's name is Ram or Rahim," Gandhi said.
Referring to the killing of five Indian soldiers by the Pakistani army in Kashmir, Gandhi said the entire nation stood united when a matter of national interest came up.
"We may be from different political parties. But when the matter of national interest comes us then we should all stand united," he said.
