TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the Somnath temple on Wednesday got mired in a controversy after his name was found written on the entry register meant for non-Hindus, with the Congress calling it ‘fake’ and the Bharatiya Janata Party insisting that the leader declare his religious faith before people.
Gandhi, on campaign trail in Gujarat for the assembly polls, began his two-day visit to the state after offering prayers at the famous temple. Non-Hindus are allowed to visit the temple but have to first get themselves registered at the shrine’s office.
A purported photocopy of the page of the register for non-Hindus with names of Gandhi and senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel written on it went viral on social media soon after their visit. The temple administration said Gandhi’s name was written in the shrine’s register for non-Hindus by his media coordinator and maintained none of its staff was involved in the entire episode.
The signature against their names was that of the Congress party’s media coordinator Manoj Tyagi.”This is fake. Tyagi was made to sign on a blank paper of the register for media entry and later the names of Rahul Gandhi and others were added in the register,” said Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.
Accusing the BJP of hatching a conspiracy against Gandhi, Surjewala insisted that the party vice president has declared himself as a ‘Shiv Bhakt’ (Lord Shiva devotee) and is a ‘janeu dhari’ (sacred thread-wearing) Hindu.
