Taking potshots at the Congress' claim that party vice president Rahul Gandhi is a Janeudhari Hindu, BJP's Rajya Sabha member Subramanian Swamy today said the 47-year-old Gandhi scion was "compelled" to wear 'Janeu' (sacred thread) to perform the last rites of his father.
Swamy also termed the Congress as a "dharmashala" of one family on the day when Rahul filed his nomination for the party president's post.
"Rahul Gandhi was compelled to wear Janeu because of his father. Otherwise, he will not be able to perform last rites," Swamy said, while questioning why the Congress leader was not saying that he was a Hindu.
The senior BJP leader arrived here to attend a conference on environmental issues.
Swamy said, "When he accepts that he is a Shivabhakt, what is the problem in accepting that he is a Hindu. We will accept it. Your (Rahul) associate asked for the register meant for non-Hindus making entries and then you make claims that you are a Shivabhakt (devotee of Lord Shiva)."
The BJP leader reaffirmed that the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya would begin soon and it would be ready to receive devotees by next Diwali.
"I have seen that our pleas are stronger than the opposition. They were defeated in the Allahabad High Court. They have now filed an appeal but they did not present new facts. So, I believe that we will win the court battle," he said.
While replying to a question, Swamy claimed BJP's victory in the Gujarat Assembly elections was a foregone conclusion.
Asked about the extradition of liquor baron Vijay Mallya, Swamy said, "The government is making efforts to bring him back to India. The government will not spare anybody."
Referring about to the GST, Swamy said that after the new tax regime was implemented, the GDP has started an upward movement.
Asked if the GST would adversely affect the BJP's chances in the Gujarat polls, he said everybody was saying that demonetisation would harm the party's prospects. But, on the contrary, the BJP won 75 per cent seats in Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, he added.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)