'What's your gotra?' BJP attacks Rahul Gandhi for 'fancy dress Hinduism'

As Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday visited the famous Mahakaleshwar Temple in the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, the BJP said he was exhibiting "fancy dress Hinduism" to fool people. The ruling party also demanded action against Shashi Tharoor for his "scorpion" remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday began his two-day tour of politically significant Malwa-Nimar region in the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh by offering prayers at the famous Mahakaleshwar Temple, devoted to Lord Shiva, in Ujjain. Photo: Congress

INDORE: As Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday visited the famous Mahakaleshwar Temple in the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, the BJP said he was exhibiting "fancy dress Hinduism" to fool people. The ruling party also demanded action against Shashi Tharoor for his "scorpion" remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tharoor on Sunday stoked a controversy by 'quoting' an unnamed RSS source to compare Modi to "a scorpion sitting on a Shivling" and termed it as an extraordinarily striking metaphor. The BJP has asked Gandhi to expel Tharoor from the Congress for his remarks. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said: "The objectionable statement of Tharoor, who is very close to Rahul Gandhi, has disrespected not only the holy deity of Lord Mahadev, worshipped by crores of Hindus, but also Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "In such a situation, how will he (Gandhi) offer prayers at the Mahakal temple," he said. Calling his temple visits as "fancy dress Hinduism", Patra also asked Gandhi to make it clear which 'gotra' (clan) does he belong to. "After the Antony committee's report, Rahul Gandhi is exhibiting fancy dress Hinduism continuously. To mislead the Hindus, he is sporting a "janeu" (scared thread) over the shirt. We demand that 'janeudhari' Rahul Gandhi clarify to which 'gotra' (clan) does he belong to," Patra said. He also said since Gandhi had not given any answer to this question, people were calling him a "Vatican gotra ka Brahmin". Gandhi in August went to Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, after which he has been portrayed as 'Shiv Bhakt' by the Congress. Barely months ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the entire spectacle is being seen as Congress' efforts to woo Hindu voters. Voting to elect new Assembly in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 28 and counting will take place on December 11. (With PTI inputs)