Amit Shah is not Hindu, but presents himself as one: Owaisi

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday targeted both Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well as the Congress over the issue of religion. In the wake of the Gujarat Assembly elections, the politician accused both the parties of playing politics in the name of religion.

Targeting BJP president Amit Shah, Owaisi claimed that the BJP president "is not Hindu, but promotes himself as Hindu" for political gains. He also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, "When PM Modi says he is Hindu, it is fine for all, but when I say I am Muslim, it does not go down well."

The remark from Owaisi comes soon after a war of words between the BJP and the Congress over Rahul Gandhi's religion, following his visit to the Somnath temple in Gujarat.

It started after the emergence of an entry in a Somnath temple register, reportedly meant for non-Hindus, in the name of the Congress vice president. It was alleged that Rahul's media coordinator Manoj Tyagi made the entry in the register meant to be filled by non-Hindus visiting the temple.

Reacting to it, the BJP had launched an all-out attack on the Congress, seeking clarification on the Gandhi scion's religion. The Congress was also quick in its response as it released three photographs to "prove" that Rahul Gandhi is a "janeudhari Hindu".

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal had even raised questions on the religion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that he was not a "real Hindu", and just a follower of Hindutva.

Later, the Gandhi scion broke his silence on the issue, saying his family members had been disciple of lord Shiva. He had further asserted that he did not intend to use his religious belief for political gains.

Talking about the register entry, Rahul said that he had made an entry only in the visitor book and claimed that the register entry in question was made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) people.

Unfazed by the issue, the Congerss leader also visited Gopinath Mandir in Gadhada.