Rahul Gandhi has been on a temple-visiting spree for his Gujarat election campaign.

News18.com

Updated on: November 21, 2017, 8:53 PM IST

November 21, 2017, 8:53 PM IST FOLLOW US ON: Facebook Twitter Instagram

New Delhi: Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi for his frequent temple visits in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath claimed that the Congress scion was told off by a priest for sitting as if he was about to offer namaaz.

The saffron-clad priest-turned chief minister said he was happy that Rahul is now visiting temples and it would help “cleanse his mind”. He was speaking at a media event hosted by a TV channel.


“I feel like laughing and also feel sad that uss bechare ko yeh bhi nahin maloom ki mandir main kaise baitha jaata hai (poor thing, he doesn't even know how to sit properly in a temple). When he had gone to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, he was sitting as if he was about to offer namaaz. The priest had to tell him - this is a temple not a mosque,” Yogi Adityanath said.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah came to the defence of Rahul. He slammed Adityanath for mocking the Congress leader’s temple visits and accused him of lying to polarise voters. “We don’t sit for namaz Yogi ji so when you decide to tell lies to polarise voters how about you lie about things you know about,” Omar tweeted.


The BJP has tried to label Rahul’s temple visits as a mere pretence, done only to woo Hindu votes in the poll-bound state. Congress has denied allegations of playing the ‘soft-Hindutva’ card and said that no political meaning should be attached to the visits.

Adityanath also took a swipe at the Congress, reminding that the UPA government had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying that gods Rama and Krishna were imaginary. “If they are imaginary, then what is Rahul Gandhi doing in temples? I am equally amused and saddened when he visits temples,” he said.


Making fun of Rahul’s imminent elevation to the post of Congress president, Adityanath said that it would help realise the dream of “Congress mukt Bharat.” “Congress is fulfilling Gandhiji’s dreams. To fulfil the dream of Congress-mukt Bharat, it is necessary to have Rahul Gandhi,” he said.