Cong's Udit Raj restores tweet questioning Kumbh Mela spend after removing it briefly; BJP seeks answers from Priyanka

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Udit Raj on Thursday first deleted and then restored a tweet questioning Uttar Pradesh government's spending on the Kumbh mela amid attacks by the BJP, which sought a reply from Priyanka Gandhi and her party on the issue.
"I am restoring my tweet and I am ready to debate. Whenever I comment on any political issue, I tag the INC. This was my personal view and the party was not tagged," Udit Raj said as he restored the tweet.
"The party is being dragged into this issue without any reason. Dr Ambedkar believed that religion and politics should not be mixed," the Congress leader said as he countered the BJP attack over his tweet.
"No ritual teachings and rituals to be funded by the government. The state does not have its own religion. UP government spent 4200 crore in organising the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad and that too was wrong," the Congress leader had said in a tweet in the morning.
When asked about his tweet, Raj told ANI, "Religion should be separate from political power and the state should not interfere, encourage or discourage any religion. In this context, I had cited the example of the Kumbh Mela expenditure as it was huge."
He asked why should there be any controversy, heart-burning, conflict or communal disturbance over one religion being favoured by the government over another. "So, let us stop for all religions," Unit Raj said.
BJP leader and minister of state (MoS), finance, Anurag Thakur slammed Udit Raj for his remarks and said events like the Kumbh mela provide opportunities to the government to develop infrastructure.
"I think some people remain in the confines of politics only. They do not have ideas and will for development. The government has to develop infrastructure and provide facilities to crores of devotees who visit the Kumbh Mela. When the government provides facilities, it helps in tourism," Thakur said.
Uttar Pradesh MSME minister Sidharth Nath Singh said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the Congress party should answer whether the government should be spending in the Kumbh or not.
"As far as BJP is concerned, we are proud that we spent on Kumbh 2019. It was known throughout the world. Next Kumbh will be grander and we will spend double the amount. It is the promise to those who wish to attend the Kumbh," Singh said.
State minister Brijesh Pathak said Kumbh is a global affair now, it is just not restricted to the Uttar Pradesh government. "One should not comment on such an event, which is attended by the millions across the world," Pathak said.
(With inputs from ANI)