New Delhi, July 2: Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) Chief Chirag Paswan on Tuesday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks against the central government led by NDA in the Parliament, claiming that the Bhartiya Janata Party "played with religious sentiments".

The LJP is a part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

"Out of the points raised by the LoP, some of them were not even based on facts. The personal comments made by him towards either the chair or the Prime Minister were unacceptable. He also played with the religious sentiments of people," Paswan told ANI.

The Union Minister further said that the Congress is leading the alliance, which carries such thoughts.

"The way in which he waved the picture of Lord Mahadev, and kept it on the table beneath the papers, is something that can not be tolerated. The alliance that they are leading carries such thoughts. The DMK calls 'Sanatana' a disease, and the Congress is influenced by that thought", he added.

After Rahul Gandhi's maiden speech created political heat, several portions of his address targeting the central government were expunged from the records of the Parliament.

The portions expunged include his comments on Hindus and PM Narendra Modi-BJP-RSS among others.

Rahul Gandhi in his speech in Lok Sabha on Monday afternoon, during the debate on the motion of thanks on President Draupadi Murmu's address accused the BJP and RSS of preaching and spreading violence and hatred. His remarks drew protests from the Treasury benches.

The Bharatiya Janata Party - led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh among others stood up to express their protest and rebut the Congress MP's remarks.

The BJP leaders accused the Congress MP "of speaking lies, misleading the House and terming the entire Hindu community violent".

The Congress hit back with counter-allegations against the Modi government.

Rahul Gandhi invoked Lord Shiva, Prophet Mohammad, Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ, Lord Budha and Lord Mahavir, saying that he had taken the idea of fearlessness from their teachings. PM Modi slammed Rahul Gandhi during his speech.

"Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious matter," the Prime Minister said.

However, Gandhi backed his remarks, stating that the entire BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) do not represent the entire Hindu community.

Speaking on the Parliamentary Party meeting of the NDA, which concluded today at GMC Balayogi Auditorium of the Parliament Library Building (PLB), Chirag Paswan said that the newly elected MPs and the first-time MPs received the guidance of the Prime Minister.

"We received Prime Minister's guidance. In the past few days, seeing constitutional values being demolished, the Prime Minister was concerned about that. We discussed how the NDA leaders can set a benchmark through their behaviours and values in the Parliament. The newly elected MPs and especially the first-time MPs also received the guidance of the Prime Minister", he said.

Meanwhile, PM Modi will reply to the 'motion of thanks' on the President's address in the Lok Sabha later today.

(ANI)

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