Moradabad/Meerut/New Delhi, Dec 27: Congress leader Salman Khurshid has likened Rahul Gandhi to Lord Ram and described him as “superhuman” and a “yogi doing tapasya” as he lauded the former party chief for his Bharat Jodo Yatra, evoking sharp criticism from the BJP.
Slamming the opposition party leaders for their show of “sycophancy”, the BJP said comparing a person out on bail in a corruption case, a reference to the National Herald probe, to a God worshipped by so many people not only hurts the feelings of Hindus but also the entire society.
The Congress leader, however, remained unfazed and defended his remarks, saying he does not need instructions from Nagpur, a reference to RSS headquarters, to praise his leader Rahul Gandhi.
“Lord Ram belongs to all. The BJP should not make this debate controversial. Earlier also Lord Ram has been called as ‘Imam-e-Hind’ and he belongs to all religions,” Khurshid told reporters in Meerut on Tuesday “No one can replace God but everyone can try to walk the path shown by him. Why should anyone object if I say someone is following that path,” he said.
Khurshid later told PTI, “I am willing to say whatever they believe I have said. Have I said that Rahul Gandhi is like Ram? Have I said it? I am willing to say it.” While BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia targeted the Congress at a press conference following Khurshid’s remarks, another party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, in a swipe at Congress leaders, said they put “parivaar ki bhakti” (devotion to family) above “bhagwaan and rashtra ki bhakti” (devotion to God and nation).
The Congress must apologise for hurting Hindu sentiments, Poonawalla said.
Khurshid, a former Cabinet minister, also likened Congress workers to Lord Ram’s brother Bharat.
Talking to reporters in Moradabad on Monday, Khurshid, who is the state coordinator of the yatra, said, “Rahul Gandhi is superhuman. While we are freezing in the cold and wearing jackets, he is going out in T-shirt (for the Bharat Jodo Yatra). He is like a yogi, he has called himself so, doing his ‘tapasya’ (penance) with focus.” Drawing a parallel with Lord Ram and his brother Bharat, Khurshid said, “Lord Ram’s ‘khadau’ (wooden slipper) goes very far. Sometimes when Ram ji is not able to reach, Bharat takes his ‘khadau’ and goes to places. Like that, we have carried the ‘khadau’ in Uttar Pradesh.
“Now that ‘khadau’ has reached Uttar Pradesh. Ram ji will also come, this is our belief.” He was responding to a question about the Gandhi-led yatra not passing through Uttar Pradesh till now.
Asked about BJP’s reaction to his remarks, Khurshid told reporters on Tuesday, “If I believe somebody is following the path shown by God, then what will I say if I have to praise him? How do you praise a person if he has attained such a height? Isn’t this said that he is like God? No one can replace God but everyone can try to walk the path shown by him.
“Why should anyone object if I say someone is following that path and that people can again see the story they associate with God. If the BJP has never seen a good man, then it’s their problem.” He said Lord Ram is an ideal for people all religions including Hindus and Muslim. (PTI)
