Somnath Row: What’s Rahul’s Religion? Congress, BJP Battle It Out

Rahul Gandhi's visit to the Somnath temple got mired in a controversy after his name was found written on the entry register meant for non-Hindus. The Congress accused the BJP of hatching a conspiracy against its leader and insisted Gandhi has declared himself as a 'Shiv Bhakt' (Lord Shiva devotee) and is a 'janeu-dhari' (sacred thread-wearing) Hindu.

The BJP, however, dismissed the conspiracy charge as baseless, saying Gandhi's aide who signed the register belongs to the Congress.

The temple administration said Gandhi's name was written in the shrine's register for non-Hindus by his media coordinator and maintained none of its staff was involved in the entire episode.

Non-Hindus are allowed to visit the temple but have to first get themselves registered at the shrine's office.

A purported photocopy of the page of the register for non-Hindus with names of Gandhi and senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel written on it went viral on social media soon after their visit to the shrine this afternoon.

The signature against their names was that of the Congress party's media coordinator Manoj Tyagi.

This is fake. Tyagi was made to sign on a blank paper of the register for media entry and later the names of Rahul Gandhi and others were added in the register. This is a conspiracy of the BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a trustee of the temple trust

Randeep Surjewala, Spokesperson, Congress

Surjewala insisted Gandhi only signed the visitor's register where he wrote that the place was "inspiring".

The BJP, however, demanded that Gandhi declare his religious faith before people.

Rahul, in his affidavit to the Election Commission, has shown different things and in the Somnath temple he is showing different things. He should come clean. Rahul may belong to any religion, we do not have any problem. We respect him. But the people of the country will get confused with this controversy

Sambit Patra, Spokesperson, BJP

The Congress leader has visited more than 15 temples during his multiple visits to poll-bound Gujarat in the last two months.

(With inputs from PTI)

Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj