Congress, BJP in Rajasthan spar over temple visits

JAIPUR: The Congress today hit out at Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for her remarks on party president Rahul Gandhi's temple visits, saying her own government had been "demolishing" Hindu shrines.

Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot's accusation comes ahead of Gandhi's Jaipur visit tomorrow to launch his party's campaign for the assembly polls later this year.

He may also visit a temple during the visit, party sources said, but there has been no official announcement yet.

During her ongoing Rajashan Gaurav Yatra across the state, Raje had said that Gandhi remembers temple only during election-time. She had herself begun the yatra from a temple in Rajsamand.

In turn, Pilot has reminded the BJP leader of the row in 2015 when temples were dismantled and relocated in the walled city in Jaipur for the construction of a metro rail line.

Pilot alleged that over 300 temples have been demolished in the state capital during the BJP rule.

He asked why Gandhi's temple visits are a problem with the BJP. "This has been the part of his upbringing and he was taught about going to the temple by Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi," Pilot told PTI.

"But who has taught Raje to demolish historic and centuries-old temples when she is in power?" he said.

"People of the state know this fact well that she goes to temples when she faces a political challenge. Otherwise she has no hesitation in ordering their demolition," Pilot said.

Gandhi's temple visits came into focus during assembly election campaigns in Gujarat and Karnataka.

The Congress president will address party workers tomorrow at Ramlila ground, where he will reach in a specially designed bus from Jaipur airport with supporters following in other vehicles.

Pilot said Gandhi is coming to Jaipur to rid the state of the BJP government.

He said Raje was making statements on "non-issues" to divert the people's attention and to evade the real questions they want to ask her.

"The BJP is nervous and has not yet overcome the shock of the defeat the party tasted in the bypolls," he said.