दुर्भाग्य से एक विफल प्रधानमंत्री और एक बौखलाई भाजपा ने अपनी संकुचित व द्वेषपूर्ण मानसिकता के चलते राहुल जी की कैला… https://t.co/j9p4mn3vaS — Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) 1535716454000

Rahul Gandhi has left for China via Nepal. Rahul ji has an obsession for China. Why is it that Mr. Gandhi always wa… https://t.co/MKKEgX57RT — ANI (@ANI) 1535702570000

NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi 's Kailash Mansarovar Yatra on Friday triggered a war of words between the BJP and the Congress.While the BJP took a dig at the Congress president by calling him "Chinese Gandhi", the Congress said that by terming Rahul's visit "honeymoon tourism", the BJP has attacked the beliefs and principles of Hindu religion."A failed Prime Minister and an anxious BJP, with its narrow-minded and hateful mentality, has not even spared a pious trip," Surjewala responded to BJP’s criticism of Rahul’s visit.In a series of tweets, Surjewala said that the PM and his "blind-followers" have forgotten the difference between politics and pilgrimage.Surjewala dismissed BJP’s allegations of Rahul’s “close ties” with China reminding them about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Beijing where he had received a warm welcome by President Xi Jinping."It is very sad that Modi ji and his followers have “stooped to petty politics” and have not even spared Bhagwan Shiv and Maa Parvati," Surjewala said.The Congress leader also accused the BJP of trying to create "hurdles" in the yatra.The heated exchange of words came in the background of Rahul's visit to Kailash Mansarovar. The Congress president on Friday left the national capital to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in accordance with a wish he expressed in April this year when his plane plunged hundreds of feet during the campaign for the Karnataka polls."The Congress president is obsessed with China," BJP's Sambit Patra said shortly after Rahul embarked on his 12-day-long journey."Why did Rahul Gandhi want the Chinese Ambassador to India to give him a ceremonial see-off at the Indira Gandhi International Airport? Why is Mr Rahul Gandhi behaving like a Chinese spokesperson rather than an Indian spokesperson? Why is Mr Rahul Gandhi holding the brief of China across the globe? He advertises China as if he is the advertising man hired to advertise China. You are Rahul Gandhi, not Chinese Gandhi. Rahul ji has an obsession with China," Patra said.Patra claimed that Rahul was flying to Nepal from where he would go to China."Why is it that Mr Gandhi always wants to get a Chinese view on everything but does not want to have an Indian perspective? Which politicians will he meet there?" he added.In the press conference, the BJP also played a video clip of several comments made by Gandhi in which he highlights achievements of the neighbouring country, and alleged that the Congress president acts like a "Chinese spokesperson"."Addiction, obsession or something else" was the video's title.During the Doklam standoff between India and China, Gandhi had met the Chinese ambassador to understand the Chinese perspective without taking the Indian government into confidence or seeking to know Indian perspective, he said.He also mentioned Gandhi's claim that China gives 50,000 jobs to its people every 24 hours while India could employ only 450 persons every day and termed them as "comic figures"."Why he is holding brief for China everywhere as if he is a hired man to advertise China," Patra said.The Gandhi family was a guest of the Chinese government during the 2008 Olympics in the country and the Chinese ambassador had gone to the airport to see its members off, Patra said, questioning the kind of relations it has with the country.The arduous pilgrimage to Mt Kailash, which is considered the abode of Lord Shiva in Hindu mythology and is in the Tibetan Himalayas, is organised every year between June and September.On April 26, the plane carrying Gandhi and some others from Delhi to Hubballi airport in Karnataka developed a technical problem and tilted heavily on the left side.The plane dipped steeply with violent shuddering, but soon recovered and landed safely.Three days later, on April 29, Gandhi announced during a rally here that he wanted to undertake the pilgrimage.