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The question mark over the Gandhis’ next move comes amid Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh, DK Shivakumar, and Sachin Pilot taking a holy dip, recognising that ‘Hindu Aastha’ cannot be taken lightly in the battle against BJP
With Congress determined to take on the BJP and also assert its identity apart from that of the INDIA bloc, it may be tough for the Gandhi siblings to avoid or justify skipping the dip in the river of faith. (PTI)
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s recent comments on the Maha Kumbh have not just stoked a controversy but also left many in his party in a fix and put a question mark on the next move by the Gandhi siblings to quell the row.
At a rally recently, Kharge ruffled feathers when he questioned if a holy dip in the Ganga would eliminate poverty in the country. Though he clarified that he had no intention to hurt anyone’s sentiments, he criticised BJP leaders for competing with each other and trying to grab attention by being on TV to ensure people saw them at the Kumbh.
The remark came even as INDIA bloc ally Akhilesh Yadav and his wife were one of the first to take the dip. In fact, after the stampede at the site that killed over 30, the Samajwadi Party chief questioned the BJP’s Hindu credentials and asked why Hindus were dying due to mismanagement at the world’s largest spiritual gathering.
However, over the past week, three pictures have stood out. Digvijaya Singh and his son, Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, and Sachin Pilot have visited Kumbh and taken a dip.
All of them understand and know that ‘Hindu Aastha’ [faith] is something they cannot take lightly. The mistake made during the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya cannot be repeated when Congress had skipped the ceremony, calling it a government event. Though the party said it would visit the temple later, so far, none of the high-profile leaders have been seen in Ayodhya.
Congress sources are tight-lipped about the Gandhis visiting the Maha Kumbh. In 2001, Sonia Gandhi was seen taking the holy dip and it was considered a momentous decision as it helped counter the criticism that she, being a Christian by birth, had not bothered to follow the rituals of the family she had married into. Indira Gandhi was a devout Hindu and always wore ‘Rudraksh’.
With Congress determined to take on the BJP and also assert its identity apart from that of the INDIA bloc, it may be tough for the Gandhi siblings to avoid or justify skipping the dip in the river of faith.
