London: BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leaders' decision to oppose Congress President Sonia Gandhi becoming India's Prime Minister has been condemned as "outrageous and racist" by British Indian Muslims.

"BJP's outrageous and racist opposition of Sonia Gandhi as India's Prime Minister has shown to the world the ugly face of Hindutva forces," Council of Indian Muslims, UK, Munaf Zeena said last night (May 18).

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"This is really bizarre that someone as eminent as Ms Gandhi who holds an Indian passport, is a bona fide citizen of India, has been serving in the Indian Parliament, has contested and campaigned in elections but the moment her party wins and her supporters decide to nominate her to be the next Prime Minister of the country a bunch of fanatics declare her to be a second class citizen," Zeena said.

He said, "Ms Gandhi's foreign-origin is just a pretext. As a matter of fact this is her Catholic background because of which the fascists of Sangh Parivar are opposing her. They can not tolerate a non-Brahmin as Prime Minister and they will continue to create problems for Manmohan Singh as well."

Zeena praised Sonia's decision to withdraw her name in the larger interest and unity of the country as "magnanimous and an example of very high morals".