Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat likens book on PM Modi to Gita, draws flak from Congress

JAIPUR: Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stirred a controversy on Tuesday by purportedly comparing the book Modi@20: Dreams Meet Delivery with the Gita at an event in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu.
"I can tell you with full confidence that for the future generations, this book will become as important and holy as the sermons delivered by Lord Krishna in the Gita," Shekhawat said to applause from the gathering of mostly BJP functionaries and workers.
A video clip of the speech has since gone viral. The comparison invited derision from Congress, with PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra taking to Twitter to slam the Union minister.
"Those who sell shame for power, do not pollute the path of religion by insulting (the) Shrimad Bhagwat Gita, the holy book of Sanatan culture. They have crossed the height of flattery. O Krishna... Give them good sense," he wrote.
The book Shekhawat referred to is a compilation of articles on PM Modi's political journey by the likes of author-philanthropist Sudha Murthy, economist Arvind Panagariya, external affairs minister S Jaishankar and spiritual guru Sadhguru.
Shekhawat didn't repeat the comparison with the Gita while speaking at another event in Churu.
TOI contacted his team in Jaipur and Delhi for comment, but was told the minister was attending programmes in MP's Indore.