Rahul Gandhi breaks silence on Somnath temple row, says `my family is Shiva bhakt`

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday broke his silence on the Somnath temple register entry row,  saying he doesn't use his religion for politics.

Addressing a gathering during his visit to poll-bound Gujarat, the Gandhi scion said that his family members, including his grandmother and former prime minister Indira Gandhi, have been disciples of lord Shiva.

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.

The register entry in question had sparked a war of words between the Congress and the BJP with the latter questioning the religion of the Congress leader, who is expected to be elevated as party president. Responding to it, the Congress had released three pictures claiming that the Gandhi scion was a “janeudhari Hindu”.

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

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal earlier on Thursday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi by claiming that he is not a 'real' Hindu. He claimed, “Hinduism has nothing to do with Hindutva", and Modi has embraced the latter.”

“How often does PM go to a temple?” he asked, adding, “He isn't a real Hindu.”

Sibal said, “The one who considers every Indian his brother, sister or mother is a real Hindu.”

When Rahul Gandhi visited the temple on Wednesday, a register entry was made in his name as he went inside the temple. This development had sparked speculations over the Gandhi scion being a non-Hindu. It was reported that Rahul’s media coordinator Manoj Tyagi had made the entry in the register.

According to some media reports, the register entry at Somnath is only required for people from other faiths visiting the famed temple.

Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday kicked off a two-day campaign tour in Gujarat with a visit to the Somnath temple. He is also slated to visit Gir Somnath, Amreli and Bhavnagar districts where he will interact with people and hold public meetings.

This is his sixth visit to the state since the Assembly elections dates were announced on October 24.

The two-phase Gujarat elections will take place on 9 and 14 December, while counting of votes is scheduled for 18 December.