Rahul declared as non-Hindu in Somnath temple's visitors' book, Congress blames BJP

The Congress has said Rahul's visit to the temples was aimed at countering the Hindutva ideology of the BJP and the RSS.

Congress VP Rahul Gandhi addresses a rally in pol-bound Gujarat with a 'tilak' smeared on his forehead.

New Delhi: A new controversy broke out on Wednesday afternoon after Congress VP Rahul Gandhi's name was mentioned in the register meant for non-Hindu visitors entering Somnath Temple, Gujarat. The  entry in the visitors register was filled by a media co-ordinator named Manoj Tyagi . However, Rahul's signature was not seen next to his name. Rahul was accompanied by Ahmed Patel, political advisor to Sonia Gandhi. His name was also written in the visitors book. (Take a look at the entry form in the tweet below)

#Congress VP Rahul Gandhi's name mentioned in the register meant for non-Hindu visitors entering Somnath Temple, Gujarat. Entry in the register filled by a media co-ordinator named Manoj Tyagi. Rahul was accompanied by Ahmed Patel, political advisor to Sonia Gandhi. @OfficeOfRG pic.twitter.com/inbxwcqksP

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) November 29, 2017

As soon as the news broke out, three local Congress leaders visited the temple to scrutinise the entry records. Manoj Tyagi issued a statement later on saying he had just entered Gandhi's name in the register in order to take media personnel inside the temple and not of Rahul Gandhi or Ahmed Patel. Defending the Gandhi scion, Randeep Surjewala of the Congress said, "Not only is Rahul Gandhi ji a Hindu, he is a 'janeu dhari' Hindu. So BJP should not bring down the political discourse to this level." "This is fake. Tyagi was made to sign on a blank paper of the register for media entry and later the names of Rahul Gandhi and others were added in the register," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala. "This is a conspiracy of the BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a trustee of the temple trust," he said. Surjewala said Gandhi signed the visitors' register where he wrote that the place was "inspiring". The Congress spokesperson said Gandhi, during his recent trips to Gujarat, had said he was a devotee of Lord Shiva. Rahul Gandhi has been repeatedly ridiculed by the BJP for visiting a string of temples in the state during the election campaign. The Congress said Rahul's visit to the temples was aimed at countering the Hindutva ideology of the BJP and the RSS. Rahul has often come under attack by right-wing leaders questioning the religious faith he actually follows "He should first declare he is Hindu, I suspect he is Christian and has Church inside 10 Janpath," said BJP leader Subramanian Swamy recently said while speaking to ANI. In 2012, Rahul had claimed he was 'a Brahmin' at a party review meeting.