While paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his 71st death anniversary, the Congress and other opposition leaders took a jibe at Sangh and the right-wing ideology.

As the nation paid homage to the Father of the Nation, whose death anniversary is observed across the country as Martyrs Day, leaders from various opposition political parties reminded the nation how Bapu – as Gandhi was lovingly called – became a victim of “Sangh hatred”.

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“Let us not forget the fact that it is the hatred bred by the fundamentalist ideology of Sangh that took away Bapu. Let us also not forget the fact that it is the same ideology that is staring at us with its ugliest face yet, now,” tweeted Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday.

On this 30th day of January, let us not forget the fact that it is the hatred bred by the fundamentalist ideology of Sangh that took away Bapu. Let us also not forget the fact that it is the same ideology that is staring at us with its ugliest face yet, now.

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 30, 2019

CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury said that the only fitting tribute to Mahatma Gandhi will be the “defeat of the ideology of hate”.

“On Gandhi’s death anniversary, we must not forget, as Sardar Patel said, that ideology and hate whipped up by the RSS killed Gandhi. That ideology and hate has to be defeated. It is the only fitting tribute to Gandhi. #TeesJanuary,” he tweeted.

On Gandhi’s death anniversary, we must not forget, as Sardar Patel said, that ideology and hate whipped up by the RSS killed Gandhi. That ideology and hate has to be defeated. It is the only fitting tribute to Gandhi. #TeesJanuary pic.twitter.com/EZahfxNPYB

— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) January 30, 2019

Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in her tweet, quoted Gandhi’s view on how unity can be sustained drawing attention to the opposition’s claim that the same is under threat under the current government.

“’The unity we desire will last only if we cultivate an yielding and charitable disposition towards one another’ Respectful homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary,” she wrote.

“The unity we desire will last only if we cultivate an yielding and charitable disposition towards one another”

Respectful homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary

মহাত্মা গান্ধীর প্রয়াণ দিবসে জানাই শ্রদ্ধার্ঘ্য

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 30, 2019

In a tweet containing an excerpt of Jawaharlal Nehru’s address to the nation following Mahatma’s assassination, the Congress wrote that the nation must honour the Father of the Nation and never let hate win again.

“On 30th January 1948 the world lost a guiding light and a vision of peace, truth & fraternity. Seven decades ago a man & the Sangh allowed their hate to overpower the love of an entire nation – today we honour that love & must ensure we never let hate win again,” read the tweet posted by the official Congress handle.

On 30th January 1948 the world lost a guiding light and a vision of peace, truth & fraternity. Seven decades ago a man & the Sangh allowed their hate to overpower the love of an entire nation – today we honour that love & must ensure we never let hate win again. pic.twitter.com/ffkwVngTEa

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 30, 2019

On 30 January 1948, Gandhi was fatally shot in the chest three times by RSS member Nathuram Godse who believed that the Mahatma was partial towards Muslims at the time of Partition. Godse was hanged to death in November 1949.

Earlier today, the President Ram Nath Kovind, PM Modi and other dignitaries paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi.

Read More: President Kovind, PM Modi pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary

The Prime Minister will later today inaugurate the National Salt Satyagraha Memorial in Gujarat’s Dandi in a tribute to the famous movement undertaken in 1930 that gave a tremendous boost to the freedom struggle.