Former Gujarat Congress MLA Indranil Rajguru invoked controversy by referring to Gandhiji as "cunning" and asserting that Rahul Gandhi surpassed him in purity of heart and honesty. Later, he claimed, he meant to say Gandhiji was "clever."
Responding to Rajguru's statements, Gujarat BJP vice president Bharat Boghara stated that people will not excuse the Congress for such comments on the Mahatma.
In a viral video from May 1, Rajguru, addressing a small gathering on Dudhsagar road, asserted that Rahul Gandhi possessed the qualities of purity and honesty that surpass even Mahatma Gandhi's. He predicted Rahul Gandhi to emerge as the next Mahatma Gandhi. "Write down my words if you want to. In the coming days, it will be Rahul Gandhi who will emerge as the next Mahatma Gandhi. While Gandhiji was somewhat cunning, Rahul Gandhi is totally frank and pure hearted," Rajguru said, PTI reported.
People have strived hard to highlight Rahul Gandhi as a "pappu" (street lingo for dim witted) but the country has accepted him as its leader, he further outlined in the video.
'People Will Not Tolerate Congress For Such Statements': Gujarat BJP's Bharat Boghara
Lashing out at Rajguru, Gujarat BJP vice president Bharat Boghara underscored that people will not tolerate the Congress for such statements against Mahatma Gandhi. "Gandhiji is the father of our nation and led us to Independence. People of India and Gujarat will not forgive the Congress for such comments. This anger will be reflected in the poll results," Boghara asserted.
When questioned by the media about the matter, Rajguru asserted that his remarks had been documented in historical accounts. "Today, the BJP is working like the British and is trying to destroy democracy. It is only Rahul Gandhi who is fighting against the BJP just like Mahatma Gandhi took on the British," he added.
"That is why I said people will see Mahatma Gandhi in Rahul Gandhi in the coming days. I have read many history books related to Gandhiji and in one such book, there was a reference about it (that Gandhiji was cunning). I have not added my own words," he further added, as quoted by PTI.
Rajguru further asserted that he intended to use the word "clever," claiming it was a synonym for "cunning."