<p>Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s trek to the Kedarnath shrine, revered by Hindus, is seen as an attempt by the Congress to shed its pro-minority image.<br /><br />If the choice of Varanasi Lok Sabha seat was seen as holding strategic and symbolic significance for Narendra Modi, so is Rahul’s selection of Kedarnath as he attempts an image makeover ahead of his ascension to the top post in the party.<br /><br />“Seeking blessings of god is a good thing,” AICC spokesperson R P N Singh said when asked about Rahul’s 23-km trek to the Kedarnath shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva in the Garhwal Himalayas.<br /><br />Singh dismissed suggestions that Rahul’s trek was an attempt to project a soft Hindutva image. He contended that Rahul had also visited shrines dedicated to Gautam Buddha and Kabir in the past. “Rahul’s visit to Kedarnath will send a message to thousands of pilgrims that the shrine has been made accessible after it was ravaged in 2013,” Singh said.<br /><br />Senior Congress leader A K Antony, who analysed the Congress’ Lok Sabha debacle, had said the perception that the Congress was a pro-minority party had hurt its prospects in the general elections.<br /><br />The soft Hindutva approach also came up during consultations Rahul held with party leaders last year in his attempts to understand the reasons for successive electoral debacles.<br /><br />A concept paper circulated among the party leadership also had references to the ideological mooring the Congress should have as it carries out a restructuring exercise to prepare itself for the future challenges.<br /><br />Rahul is scheduled to reach Kedarnath on Friday morning when the doors of the shrine will be opened for pilgrims after winter. All routes to the shrine are closed between November and April as the region experience heavy snowfall<br />during winter.</p>
<p>Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s trek to the Kedarnath shrine, revered by Hindus, is seen as an attempt by the Congress to shed its pro-minority image.<br /><br />If the choice of Varanasi Lok Sabha seat was seen as holding strategic and symbolic significance for Narendra Modi, so is Rahul’s selection of Kedarnath as he attempts an image makeover ahead of his ascension to the top post in the party.<br /><br />“Seeking blessings of god is a good thing,” AICC spokesperson R P N Singh said when asked about Rahul’s 23-km trek to the Kedarnath shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva in the Garhwal Himalayas.<br /><br />Singh dismissed suggestions that Rahul’s trek was an attempt to project a soft Hindutva image. He contended that Rahul had also visited shrines dedicated to Gautam Buddha and Kabir in the past. “Rahul’s visit to Kedarnath will send a message to thousands of pilgrims that the shrine has been made accessible after it was ravaged in 2013,” Singh said.<br /><br />Senior Congress leader A K Antony, who analysed the Congress’ Lok Sabha debacle, had said the perception that the Congress was a pro-minority party had hurt its prospects in the general elections.<br /><br />The soft Hindutva approach also came up during consultations Rahul held with party leaders last year in his attempts to understand the reasons for successive electoral debacles.<br /><br />A concept paper circulated among the party leadership also had references to the ideological mooring the Congress should have as it carries out a restructuring exercise to prepare itself for the future challenges.<br /><br />Rahul is scheduled to reach Kedarnath on Friday morning when the doors of the shrine will be opened for pilgrims after winter. All routes to the shrine are closed between November and April as the region experience heavy snowfall<br />during winter.</p>
