Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid has likened Rahul Gandhi to Lord Ram and described him as "superhuman" and a "yogi doing tapasya" as he lauded the former party chief for his Bharat Jodo Yatra, evoking sharp criticism from the BJP.
Slamming the opposition party leaders for their show of "sycophancy", the BJP said comparing a person out on bail in a corruption case, a reference to the National Herald probe, to a God worshipped by so many people not only hurts the feelings of Hindus but also the entire society.
The Congress leader, however, remained unfazed and defended his remarks. "No one can replace God but everyone can try to walk the path shown by him. Why should anyone object if I say someone is following that path," he said on Tuesday.
Khurshid later told PTI, “I am willing to say whatever they believe I have said. Have I said that Rahul Gandhi is like Ram? Have I said it? I am willing to say it."
While BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia targeted the Congress at a press conference following Khurshid's remarks, another party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, in a swipe at Congress leaders, said they put "parivaar ki bhakti" (devotion to family) above "bhagwaan and rashtra ki bhakti" (devotion to God and nation).
The Congress must apologise for hurting Hindu sentiments, Poonawalla said.
Khurshid, a former Cabinet minister, also likened Congress workers to Lord Ram's brother Bharat.
Talking to reporters in Moradabad on Monday, Khurshid, who is the state coordinator of the yatra, said, "Rahul Gandhi is superhuman. While we are freezing in the cold and wearing jackets, he is going out in T-shirt (for the Bharat Jodo Yatra). He is like a yogi, he has called himself so, doing his 'tapasya' (penance) with focus."
Drawing a parallel with Lord Ram and his brother Bharat, Khurshid said, "Lord Ram's 'khadau' (wooden slipper) goes very far. Sometimes when Ram ji is not able to reach, Bharat takes his 'khadau' and goes to places. Like that, we have carried the 'khadau' in Uttar Pradesh.
"Now that 'khadau' has reached Uttar Pradesh. Ram ji will also come, this is our belief."
He was responding to a question about the Gandhi-led yatra not passing through Uttar Pradesh till now.
Asked about BJP's reaction to his remarks, Khurshid told reporters on Tuesday, "If I believe somebody is following the path shown by God, then what will I say if I have to praise him? How do you praise a person if he has attained such a height? Isn't this said that he is like God? No one can replace God but everyone can try to walk the path shown by him.
"Why should anyone object if I say someone is following that path and that people can again see the story they associate with God. If the BJP has never seen a good man, then it's their problem."
Speaking to PTI, Khurshid clarified that whatever he said was only in praise of Lord Ram and asked if he is not allowed to do so.
"I have said that in our mythology, religious beliefs, wherever Lord Ram did not go, his brother carried his Khadau," he said.
Similarly, "if the yatra doesn't come to parts of UP, we are here to carry the message," he said.
BJP spokespersons, however, alleged that the Congress, when in power, had questioned the existence of Lord Ram and accused its leaders of repeatedly riding roughshod over Hindu sentiments.
"Salman Khurshid in his attempt to clarify remains defiant about his outrageous analogy between Prabhu Ram & Rahul! Heights of Parivar Bhakti that you even put Bhagwan Bhakti & Desh Bhakti aside
"Will Salman ji ever make similar analogies for other faith? Can he?" Poonawalla tweeted.
The yatra will enter Uttar Pradesh on January 3 through Loni in Ghaziabad. It will then pass through Baghpat and Shamli to enter Haryana.
Khurshid said the yatra will follow the scientific guidelines on the coronavirus pandemic.
His statement came in the backdrop of Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya asking Gandhi to consider suspending the yatra if COVID-19 protocols could not be followed.
To a question related to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Khurshid said, "We respect him, that's why our leader Rahul Gandhi went to his samadhi. The actions of other BJP leaders are not worthy of respect."
He said the Bharat Jodo Yatra is working to unite those who love the country while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) works to break the country by spreading hatred.
Reacting to Khurshid's statement, BJP spokesman Harishchandra Srivastava said they reflect nothing but sycophancy.
"Khurshid saheb needs to think thousands of times before comparing Rahul Gandhi with the 'mahapurush' who is followed by the entire world. He is a barrister but his statement is a symbol of sycophancy," Srivastava said.
Asked about reports claiming that a seer had offered Rs 21 crore for his beheading, Khurshid retorted, "This will happen if someone takes the name of Lord Ram in this country? We can't take the name of Lord Ram? Can't we appreciate Lord Ram?"
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