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Lucknow, Oct 8 (ANI): Miffed with Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi for equating the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) with the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), the BJP’s Uttar Pradesh unit president Surya Pratap Shahi described Gandhi as ‘immature’ in his approach to politics.

Addressing media here on Thursday, Shahi said: “To equate our nationalist philosophy with extremist organisations is extremely unfortunate. It just shows the immaturity and severe deficit of knowledge in the thinking of the Congress General Secretary. His statement underlines the fact that he is not aware of the history, culture and heritage of India, and neither does he know the political dynamics of the nation.”

“Before making such remarks against RSS, it would have been better that he should have first consulted the home ministry officials… he must tender an unconditional apology for his irresponsible and meaningless statements,” Shahi added.

Several BJP workers also said that the Congress was appeasing the minority Muslim community through such remarks.

“The manner in which Rahul Gandhi has placed the nationalist RSS and SIMI on the same pedestal shows that the Congress propagates vote-bank politics. It is just a ploy of the Congress to appease the Muslims, even if it means selling out national interests,” said Satish Aggarwal, a BJP youth leader.

Meanwhile, ABVP activists in Bhopal organised a massive ‘yagna’ (fire ritual) to pray for the ‘mental well-being’ of Rahul Gandhi.

Chanting mantras, the ABVP youth leaders urged Gandhi to apologise for his comments.

“The Congress must be made to realise the difference between India’s social organisations and extremist outfits. Gandhi must understand this difference. He is ignorant and gullible. He just reads whatever is given to him in front of national press,” said Vishnu Dutt Sharma, General Secretary of the ABVP.

Ruffling feathers in the RSS and BJP on Wednesday, Gandhi had remarked that the RSS and SIMI are two organisations in the country that preach fundamentalist ideologies. (ANI)