Congress MP Imran Masood on Monday denied comparing Bhagat Singh with Hamas, saying the BJP was twisting his words to create controversy.
Speaking to reporters, Masood said, “Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh is the crown on our heads. He cannot be compared with anyone. He sacrificed his life for his motherland. He could have apologised to the British but chose to embrace martyrdom.”
The Saharanpur MP added, “If my words hurt anyone, I will apologise to Bhagat Singh not once, but a million times. He is the pride of our nation.”
Masood faced backlash last week after a video shared by BJP leader Amit Malviya appeared to show him drawing a parallel between Bhagat Singh and Hamas, saying both were fighting for their land. Malviya accused Masood and the Congress of doing this “as part of a well-planned strategy during the Bihar elections.”
“Comparing Bhagat Singh to a terrorist organisation is an insult to the people of Bihar,” Malviya wrote on X, adding that Bhagat Singh had a “deep connection” with the state.
Responding to the BJP’s criticism, Masood said his remarks were being taken out of context. “I never compared Bhagat Singh with anyone. I only said Hamas is fighting for its land, just as Bhagat Singh fought for ours. But their ideologies are completely different,” he told PTI.
He accused the BJP of “putting words in his mouth” and diverting attention from real public issues. “The BJP doesn’t want to talk about people’s problems or the country’s needs. They twist statements to spread lies,” Masood said.
