Rahul Gandhi's 'naach gaana' comment on Ayodhya event sparks row
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has caused a political uproar after he referred to the January 22 Pran Pratishta of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya as a "naach-gaana" (song and dance) event. In a 27-second video, he slammed the government for making this religious event into a celebrity show, rather than focusing on marginalized communities. He said, "They invited Amitabh Bachchan, Adani, Ambani and other celebrities. Was there a single farmer there? Or a laborer? There was just dance going on."
BJP leaders react to Gandhi's comments
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reacted strongly to Gandhi's comments. BJP leader Tirath Singh Rawat said, "Maybe he (Rahul Gandhi) has not yet been able to understand the Indian culture. When he would be able to understand the Indian culture, he will understand all of this (these rituals)...Common people were involved in that celebration." Shehzad Poonawalla, national spokesperson of the BJP, also called out Gandhi for his "deplorable" remarks.
Gandhi criticizes BJP for excluding farmers from event
"After Hindu Hinsak and Devta is not Bhagwan now Rahul Gandhi says Ram Mandir pious Pran Pratishta was 'dance, naach gaana' event," Poonawalla said. "Can this be said of any other faith's pious occasions," Poonawalla questioned. He added that Gandhi's family denied Lord Ram's existence, his government coined the term "Hindu terror," and that he even referred to the Dwarka puja as "natak."
Gandhi links BJP's poll defeat to temple event
Addressing a rally in Haryana's Hisar, Gandhi also connected the BJP's 2024 Lok Sabha election defeat in Ayodhya to its handling of the temple event. He pointed out that instead of a BJP candidate, Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Awadesh Prasad won. "Did you see any worker there or a farmer? Naach gaana chal raha hai (there was song and dance), this is your reality," he said referring to the mega Ram temple event.
