In an interview shared by Malviya on his X handle, Masood compared Bhagat Singh with Hamas, saying both were the same as they were fighting for their land. Photo: X screengrab | @PTI_News
Congress MP Masood compares Bhagat Singh to Hamas; clarifies after BJP hits back
Imran Masood's remark, made during Bihar election campaigning, draws sharp criticism from BJP's Amit Malviya, who calls it an 'insult' to the people of Bihar
New Delhi, Oct 24 (PTI) Congress MP Imran Masood on Friday stoked a controversy by comparing Bhagat Singh with Hamas, as the BJP accused him of "insulting" the people of Bihar, with whom Bhagat Singh had a "deep connection".
However, after the BJP's attack, Masood later backtracked, claiming he never drew any comparison and said that Bhagat Singh was 'Shaheed-E-Azam' and cannot be compared to anyone.
BJP leader and its IT department head Amit Malviya accused Masood of drawing the comparison between Bhagat Singh and Hamas as part of a well-planned strategy during the Bihar Assembly elections, which will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11.
In an interview shared by Malviya on his X handle, Masood compared Bhagat Singh with Hamas, saying both were the same as they were fighting for their land.
"Comparing Bhagat Singh to the terrorist organisation Hamas by Congress MP Imran Masood during the Bihar elections is part of a well-planned strategy. This is an insult to the people of Bihar. Bhagat Singh had a deep connection with Bihar," Malviya alleged in a post on X.
He claimed that in the incident of throwing a bomb in the Central Assembly, his companion Batukeshwar Dutt was from Bihar. Similarly, revolutionaries like Yogendra Shukla from Vaishali were also imprisoned with him and carried forward his ideas, he said.
"Bhagat Singh’s revolutionary ideas inspired countless youths in Bihar — from student movements to leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan, who carried forward the torch of rebellion. Bihar may not have been the land of Bhagat Singh’s actions, but it has certainly been the birthplace of his ideas," Malviya said.
"Rahul Gandhi should clarify whether Imran Masood will apologise for this audacity, or will Muslim appeasement once again dominate politics?" he asked.
Masood later told PTI, "Bhagat Singh cannot be compared with Hamas; no one can be, as the two are not the same. Bhagat Singh can never be compared to anyone. No one is comparable. This is wrong. I have clearly said that if a person kills another person, it is not a good thing. We do not support violence.
"The BJP tries to raise issues like this and not issues concerning people and the country and try to put words into the mouth of others. The BJP people are selectively spreading this falsehood... I only said that Hamas is fighting for their land, just as Bhagat Singh fought for ours..." "I have never compared anyone and certainly not Bhagat Singh. Bhagat Singh is 'Shaheed-E-Azam' and he cannot be compared to anyone. His ideology is different," he later claimed. PTI