'Your family did naach-gaana all their lives...': Yogi attacks Rahul
What's the story
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his "naach-gaana" comment on the January 22 consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Addressing rallies in Hisar and Panchkula for the October 5 Haryana assembly polls, Adityanath said, "They say when the consecration ceremony was taking place in Ayodhya, dancing-singing was going on there... Your family has been doing this their entire life."
Temple controversy
Adityanath criticizes Congress's attitude toward Ram temple
Adityanath stated that the 500-year-long wait for the Ram temple had ended with the consecration of the idol of Ram Lalla at the magnificent Ram temple in Ayodhya this year. He added that thousands of Hindus made sacrifices to see a grand temple built in Ayodhya. The UP CM further criticized Congress, saying, "After the 500-year-wait, the entire country and world is overwhelmed and happy. But these 'badnaseeb (unlucky) Congressi' hate this."
Religious disrespect
Adityanath accuses Congress of disrespecting Hindu deities
Adityanath also accused the Congress of disrespecting Hindu deities. "Congress says Lord Ram did not exist. They don't believe in Lord Ram and Lord Krishna. They say land should not be given for Lord Ram and Lord Krishna but only for the Waqf Board," he said. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has recently slammed Gandhi over his "naach gaana" comment, stating that it shows the Gandhi family's real nature and contempt for Hinduism.
Viral video
Gandhi's comments spark controversy
The BJP's reaction came after a video clip of Gandhi went viral on social media, in which he is heard saying, "Amitabh Bachchan, Ambani and Adani were invited" to attend the consecration of the Ram temple but "no poor people, laborers or farmers" were called to attend the event. "Naach-gana (dancing-singing) was happening there," he had said.
Exclusion criticism
Gandhi criticizes BJP for excluding farmers from temple event
Gandhi also took a dig at the BJP for not inviting farmers to the mega event and focusing primarily on business tycoons and actors. "You opened the temple and told the President that since you are a tribal you can't come inside, you're not allowed," Rahul said while addressing a rally in Haryana's Hisar district ahead of the Assembly polls. The state goes to polls on October 5 while counting of votes will be undertaken on October 8.