Smriti targets Rahul's temple visits

Union Minister of Textiles Smriti Irani on Friday targeted Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his high visibility temple visits as elections approach in five states.

"In a democracy god, if you ask any political party about the God they will say it is among the people. But a person has gone to tour the country and is hoping from one temple-to-temple due to BJP fear," Smriti said during the national award for Shilp guru ceremony here.

She said that one has to understand the politics of the country which is based on development and only the BJP does politics by defining development.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh also made a pinching comment on the Congress president visits to religious places and temples during election campaign.

“At least in name of the election, those who never visited temples, are visiting temples. It is a big change and it is happening due to fear of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and it proves that people are forced to take God’s help,” Singh said.

Singh’s remark came after the AICC sought the route map of several prominent temples in Chhattisgarh, so that it can be included in Rahul’s itinerary during his state visit.

The chief minister said that it is a big achievement that even infamous have been put on the right path.

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhupesh Baghel slammed the CM for his comment on the Congress president. “What type of ‘Hindu’ national party is it which objects to Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the temple. How can a CM see politics in Rahul’s temple visit while he himself is climbing the steps of a temple,” he said.

Baghel said that BJP leaders are sitting without work and are only interested in Congress president Rahul’s activity. They should turn the pages of Congress history before making any comment. It is Congress leader Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel who started the renovation of Somnath temple.

"The Congress is walking on Mahatma Gandhi’s path. The BJP does not have the right to play politics on religion. It is an individual’s privacy of following any faith, and no one can question it,” said Baghel.