Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on January 16 termed the January 22 Ram Temple consecration ceremony as a “political event” and said that the BJP and RSS have made it a “Narendra Modi function”.
Addressing a press conference on the third day of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Kohima, Rahul Gandhi said: “The BJP and RSS have made the January 22 function as a political and a Narendra Modi function.”
“The Congress president declined the invitation as the function has been given a political and election flavour that is designed around the prime minister and the RSS,” he added.
The former Congress president said that the ‘authorities’ of Hindu religion have also made it clear that the event was a political function and “it is difficult for us to visit a political function on January 22”.
Calling ‘practice of religion as personal’, the Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad said: “I don’t take advantage of my religion and I don’t have to wear my religion on my sleeve”.
#WATCH | Kohima, Nagaland | When asked about BJP calling Congress and Gandhi family as "anti-Hindu", Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "…Someone who actually believes in religion keeps a personal relation with it. He uses religion in his life. Those who keep a public relation with… pic.twitter.com/VWbdNHBfOn
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2024
“I believe that religion is a personal choice and I try to live with the principle of my religion. My religion teaches me to be polite, not hate anyone and respect all,” Rahul Gandhi said.
Stating that the Congress will participate in the election process and election rallies, Rahul Gandhi said that this yatra is to bring the injustice being meted by the BJP government in front of the people.
He again accused the BJP and RSS of selectively benefiting some industrialists by giving them the wealth of the country.
