Wednesday, April 26 2006 14:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kozhikode: Accusing the Congress and the CPI-M of practising communal politics by appeasing the minorities, BJP president Rajnath Singh today (Apr 26, 2006) claimed that his party was the 'most secular' one at the national level.

"We have never tried to play the communal card in Indian politics. Among the national parties, the BJP was the most secular party and the Congress and the CPI-M were the most communal as they always try to appease the minorities," he told at a meet-the-press here.

Even in Kerala, both the Congress and the CPI-M were communalising politics by aligning with extremist elements for the sake of winning the polls, he alleged.

There was a 'cut-throat' competition between the two in playing the communal card in the state, he added.

Lashing out at the Left parties for supporting the Congress-led UPA Government while adopting an anti-Government stance on major issues, Singh said the CPI-M was indulging in 'emotional blackmail' of minorities by raising issues concerning Muslim nations and also accusing the Manmohan Singh-led Government of implementing American programmes.

On reports that Rahul Gandhi was prepared to take over the leadership in Uttar Pradesh, Singh said, "The Congress is politically insignificant in UP and appointing a leader is that party's internal problem".

He declined to comment when asked to react on V P Singh's newly-formed Jan Morcha.

Making light of Sonia Gandhi's recent remarks here that BJP was taking out yatras only to spread the 'poison' of communalism, Singh said, "We are able to reach the masses and communicate with them effectively through the yatras".