Ahmedabad, Nov 30: The controversy pertaining to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's religion
seems to be far from over - at least the Gujarat BJP leaders would not let the
row end soon.
According to party sources here, a day after Rahul's
'religion' made headlines after his visit to the Somnath temple, the saffron
party leaders now say there have been an article long back that has said that
Mr Gandhi was "raised" as a Catholic.
A BJP leader said here that an article was published under the title: 'Sonia Gandhi, the foreigner startles Political Pundits' -- a reference to the Congress president making her impact in the national politics.
The article had further said, "Initially the Hindu nationalists (that is the BJP) seemed perplexed by Ms Gandhi's role, paying her scant attention. Then, as the polls showed the Congress Party's support picking up, men like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani, who would lead a Hindu nationalist Government, became increasingly shrill, warning of the dangers of a 'Rome Raj.'
'Few doubted that this was code for Ms Gandhi's Roman Catholicism, a faith in which her son, Rahul, 27, and her daughter, Priyanka, 26, were also raised," it added.
Now a several BJP leaders say, Mr Gandhi was 27-28 year old when the article was published and hence he should have issued a denial -- as the Congress party now claims him not only to be a Hindu but also a Brahmin.
Apparently, there is already a decision on the part of BJP to play up the issue in the run up to the two phase polls in the state.
In fact, a section of central leaders and party spokesmen have also questioned the rationale behind Congress or Rahul Gandhi going defensive about "Gandhi's religion".
"Our Constitution allows us to practice whatever faith we want. So Mr Rahul Gandhi can be Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Jew anything. But why he has to be defensive about it?," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli told a television on Wednesday night.
On Wednesday, the much-revered Somnath temple made headlines in the high pitched election campaign with Rahul Gandhi making a visit and offering puja while Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking a dig at the Congress leader citing Pt Jawaharlal Nehru's 'unhappiness' over the then President Dr Rajendra Prasad inaugurating the temple.
"Aaaj Somnath dada yaad ayi chhey (Today you are remembering Lord Somnath Dada)," Mr Modi has told an election rally in an emotive speech. UNI
A BJP leader said here that an article was published under the title: 'Sonia Gandhi, the foreigner startles Political Pundits' -- a reference to the Congress president making her impact in the national politics.
The article had further said, "Initially the Hindu nationalists (that is the BJP) seemed perplexed by Ms Gandhi's role, paying her scant attention. Then, as the polls showed the Congress Party's support picking up, men like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani, who would lead a Hindu nationalist Government, became increasingly shrill, warning of the dangers of a 'Rome Raj.'
'Few doubted that this was code for Ms Gandhi's Roman Catholicism, a faith in which her son, Rahul, 27, and her daughter, Priyanka, 26, were also raised," it added.
Now a several BJP leaders say, Mr Gandhi was 27-28 year old when the article was published and hence he should have issued a denial -- as the Congress party now claims him not only to be a Hindu but also a Brahmin.
Apparently, there is already a decision on the part of BJP to play up the issue in the run up to the two phase polls in the state.
In fact, a section of central leaders and party spokesmen have also questioned the rationale behind Congress or Rahul Gandhi going defensive about "Gandhi's religion".
"Our Constitution allows us to practice whatever faith we want. So Mr Rahul Gandhi can be Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Jew anything. But why he has to be defensive about it?," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli told a television on Wednesday night.
On Wednesday, the much-revered Somnath temple made headlines in the high pitched election campaign with Rahul Gandhi making a visit and offering puja while Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking a dig at the Congress leader citing Pt Jawaharlal Nehru's 'unhappiness' over the then President Dr Rajendra Prasad inaugurating the temple.
"Aaaj Somnath dada yaad ayi chhey (Today you are remembering Lord Somnath Dada)," Mr Modi has told an election rally in an emotive speech. UNI
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