KOHIMA: In his first remarks on the raging issue of Ram temple consecration, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the Shankaracharyas have spoken the “truth” that the function has been designed for political projection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is also the reason why Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has turned down the invite to attend it.
He said it’s very difficult for Congress to attend the function that has been “captured” by its arch-rival RSS-BJP for political and electoral reasons. He, however, added that Congress has told the leaders in the party and among alliance partners that those who want to attend it are welcome to go. Congress is open to all religions and practices, he added.
“RSS and BJP have turned the January 22 function completely into a Modi function. It has become an RSS-BJP function. Even the biggest authorities of Hindu religion have said that they will not be able to attend it, as it has become a political function. So, it is very difficult for us to go for a political function which is designed around the PM and the RSS… who have given it a political, electoral flavour,” Rahul told a press conference here on the third day of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
At the same time, when asked about the BJP campaign to paint Congress and the Gandhis as “anti-Hindu” despite he being a “Shiv Bhakt” and a regular at pilgrimages, Rahul said those who wear religion on their sleeves actually don’t believe in religion and milk it for political gains. He said he believes in a “personal relationship” with religion and uses its principles as the guiding light of his life, like by treating people with respect, not responding to others with arrogance, by not spreading hatred.
“I follow religious principles, but I don’t have to wear religion on my sleeve. Those who don’t believe in religion have to make a show of it,” he remarked.
The Gandhi scion’s upfront enunciation of the reason behind the Congress decision to decline the invites sent to Kharge and Sonia Gandhi for the January 22 ceremony is likely to put the unending queries to the party on the issue to rest, even though it may further enrage the ruling BJP and inflame its campaign targeting Congress.
On the day of the Nyay Yatra launch on Sunday, Kharge had lashed out at PM Modi for “seeking to use the name of Lord Ram for political benefits”, and to divert the national focus from the real questions facing the country like unemployment, price rise and growing rich-poor divide, as also cronyism.
He said it’s very difficult for Congress to attend the function that has been “captured” by its arch-rival RSS-BJP for political and electoral reasons. He, however, added that Congress has told the leaders in the party and among alliance partners that those who want to attend it are welcome to go. Congress is open to all religions and practices, he added.
“RSS and BJP have turned the January 22 function completely into a Modi function. It has become an RSS-BJP function. Even the biggest authorities of Hindu religion have said that they will not be able to attend it, as it has become a political function. So, it is very difficult for us to go for a political function which is designed around the PM and the RSS… who have given it a political, electoral flavour,” Rahul told a press conference here on the third day of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
At the same time, when asked about the BJP campaign to paint Congress and the Gandhis as “anti-Hindu” despite he being a “Shiv Bhakt” and a regular at pilgrimages, Rahul said those who wear religion on their sleeves actually don’t believe in religion and milk it for political gains. He said he believes in a “personal relationship” with religion and uses its principles as the guiding light of his life, like by treating people with respect, not responding to others with arrogance, by not spreading hatred.
“I follow religious principles, but I don’t have to wear religion on my sleeve. Those who don’t believe in religion have to make a show of it,” he remarked.
The Gandhi scion’s upfront enunciation of the reason behind the Congress decision to decline the invites sent to Kharge and Sonia Gandhi for the January 22 ceremony is likely to put the unending queries to the party on the issue to rest, even though it may further enrage the ruling BJP and inflame its campaign targeting Congress.
On the day of the Nyay Yatra launch on Sunday, Kharge had lashed out at PM Modi for “seeking to use the name of Lord Ram for political benefits”, and to divert the national focus from the real questions facing the country like unemployment, price rise and growing rich-poor divide, as also cronyism.
