BJP-RSS turned Ram into Rambo, Hanuman a symbol of anger: Bhupesh Baghel

New Delhi: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday said lord Ram lives in the hearts of every Indian in many manifestations but BJP and RSS turned the gentle and benign Ram into a fighter--- a " Rambo-like figure" he said.

In an interview to the Indian Express, the Congress leaders said India was passing through "provocative and aggressive nationalism", which he hoped would pass and the Congress would make a comeback.

Communal strife was reported from across India in April, giving no space for "dissent and disagreement," he said.

According to him Lord Ram being embedded into Indian culture, Indians know Kabir's Ram, Tulsi's Ram and Shabari's Ram; farmers see Ram in another form, the tribals in yet another form and intellectuals and devotees see still another form.

Mahatma Gandhi who used to recite Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram also saw Ram and his last words were ' Hey Ram', he said. But BJP and RSS have turned 'Maryada Purushottam' ( Lord Ram) into a fighter and the posters of Hanuman , previously the epitome of humility, devotion and knowledge , now appear angry and aggressive.

Just as the way they had done with Ram earlier they are now doing to Hanuman too, he said.

Taking a swipe at BJP, the Chief Minister said BS Moonje met Mussolini, and the idea of nationalism was imported. The nationalism propounded by BJP and RSS offers no place for dissent and disagreement.

India's nationalism, according to him, was rooted in traditions set by Shankaracharya, Kabir, Guru Nanak, and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

Baghel said it took 75 years for RSS to convince the country of its version of nationalism, which was rejected during Gandhi's time.

Terming RSS's nationalism a bubble in the water, he hoped it a time would come when it would burst. The chief minister said former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was the only leader fighting the BJP without holding back.