Rahul ‘Won’t Do Dalali’ Over Religion; Rupani Doubts His Hinduism

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the “BJP people” had written his name in a second visitors’ book at Somnath temple.

Rahul Gandhi during a visit to the Swaminarayan temple at Gadhada in Botad on Thursday, 30 November.

(Photo: PTI)

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani alleged that Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi himself signed the register for non-Hindus at Somnath temple and then blamed the BJP for orchestrating it.

The Indian Express quoted Rupani as saying, “You put down your own signature in the register and then questioned us (BJP). Everyone knows (Rahul’s) temple visits are only for election campaign.”

He further said that Akshrdham temple in New Delhi is only a few minutes away from Rahul’s farmhouse, but he has never visited it.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the Somnath temple on 29 November was mired in controversy after his name, along with that of Ahmed Patel, was found written on the entry register meant for non-Hindus, with the Congress calling it “fake” and the BJP insisting the leader declare his religious faith before the people.

Gandhi has alleged that “BJP people” had written his name in a second visitors’ book at Somnath temple, adding that he and his family members are Shiv Bhakts, but did not want to use their religion for political gains.

The statement came at an address he made to traders in a closed-door meeting in Gujarat’s Amreli on 30 November.

Gandhi went on to add that he did not need anybody’s certificate about his religion.

My grandmother (the late Indira Gandhi) and my family are Shiv Bhakts. But we keep such things private. We generally do not speak about them. Because we think it is a very personal matter and we don’t need anyone else’s certificate about it. We do not want to commercialise this thing. We don’t want to do ‘dalali’ over it. We do not want to use it for political purposes either.

I will tell you what had happened. I went inside the temple. Then I signed the visitors’ book. After that, the BJP people wrote my name in the second book.

Rahul Gandhi

Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki hinted that BJP president Amit Shah, who is a trustee of the temple, could be behind it.

Amit Shah is a trustee of Somnath temple. You know what he is capable of. They have stooped to such a low level that now they want to term us non-Hindus.

Bharatsinh Solanki, Gujarat Congress President

The BJP, however, dismissed the conspiracy charge, saying Gandhi's aide who signed the register is from the Congress itself.

(With inputs from PTI.)

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