Chiephobozou, Nagaland: In the face of the BJP’s claims that the Congress is anti-Hindu because its top leaders are staying away from the Ram Temple inauguration, former party chief Rahul Gandhi today spelt out his understanding of the Hindu religion, saying he lives his life as per the principles of religion but does not feel the need to wear his religion on his sleeve.
Addressing his first press conference during the course of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra which began on January 14, Rahul, in response to a question on the BJP describing the Gandhi family as anti-Hindu, said he believes that a person who truly follows a faith has a personal relationship with religion and does not try to take advantage of it.
“A person who truly believes in a faith has a personal relationship with religion. He practises religion in his life. The one who has a public relationship with religion, the one who displays it on his chest, he tries to take advantage of it. I do not try to take advantage of my religion,” he said.
Rahul said he lives his life as per religious principles, which includes behaving properly with people, listening to what people have to say to him and not being arrogant in the manner in which he responds to them.
“I do not spread hatred. This is Hindu religion for me. And this is what I follow in my life. I don't need to wear it on my sleeve. Those who do not believe in this feel the need to do it,” he said.
Asked if he will visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, he said the RSS and the BJP have made the function on January 22 a completely political and electoral function that revolves around Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and that is why Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has said that he would not attend the function.
“We are open to all religions, all practices. Even the biggest authorities of Hindu religion have made their view public about the January 22nd function, that it is a political function. It is difficult for us to go to a political function which is designed around the Prime Minister of India and which is designed around the RSS,” he said.
Rahul further said that the Congress has made it clear that whoever would like to visit the temple amongst the INDIA alliance parties and the Congress are more than welcome to do it.
Asked if he will visit the temple as part of the yatra, he said he is following a pre-decided route and he will stick to it. He said he will be in Assam on January 22 as per the yatra schedule.
Rahul was addressing the press conference in the picturesque town a day after the yatra entered Nagaland. The yatra spent two days in Manipur before entering Nagaland last evening.
Asked about the prospects of the INDIA alliance in the Lok Sabha elections, Rahul said it is an ideological formation opposed to the ideology of the BJP-RSS and he is confident that together the parties will defeat the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.
He said in response to questions about the perceived differences amongst the parties, he said there was mutual respect and affection amongst the INDIA leaders, and most of the issues between the parties can be easily resolved.
