Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], September 21 (ANI): Congress leader Rakesh Sinha on Sunday slammed BJP leader Raghubar Das over a 'nationalist or anti-national' statement, asking him to tell if the person who abused Colonel Sofia Qureshi was a 'nationalist or anti-national'.

The controversy arose after a video clip of Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kunwar Vijay's objectionable remark on Colonel Sofia Qureshi went viral on social media. Later, in his clarification, Shah said, 'I am not a God; I'm too human, and I apologise ten times.'

The Congress leader asserted that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) did not hoist the tricolour in their headquarters for 52 years, and their successors would not tell us the definition of nationalism.

While speaking to ANI, Congress leader said, 'He must tell if the person who abused Sofia Qureshi was a nationalist or anti-national. If they are anti-national, then naturally, we are nationalists. RSS did not hoist the tricolour in their headquarters for 52 years, and now their successors tell us the definition of nationalism. At a time when a teacher's salary was Rs 15, Savarkar was paid Rs 60 as a salary by the then British government. The government will be made [by the INDIA bloc in Bihar] when vote chori will not be allowed and the BJP will not come into power.'

Earlier on Sunday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Raghubar Das took a dig at the opposition's INDIA bloc in Bihar over the upcoming elections, asserting that there is a battle between 'nationalist forces' versus the 'anti-national.'

The former Jharkhand Chief Minister said that the Opposition party in Bihar are harming the social fabric of the country.

'The upcoming elections in Bihar are about nationalist forces vs anti-national forces. Anti-national forces are harming the social fabric of the country. People of Bihar are intellectual voters. So, in these elections, nationalist forces will win,' the BJP leader told ANI.

The Bihar Assembly elections are expected to be held later in October or November. However, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not announced an official date.

While the NDA, consisting of the BJP, JD(U), and LJP, will once again be looking to continue their stint in Bihar, the INDIA bloc, consisting of the RJD, Congress, and Left parties, will be looking to unseat Nitish Kumar. (ANI)