Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat, visits Ambaji and Akshardham temples; says will continue to fight for single GST rate

Gandhinagar: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday kick-started his three-day tour of poll-bound Gujarat and visited two temples in the state- Ambaji temple and Akshardham temple.

After arriving in Gujarat Saturday morning, the Gandhi scion went straight to Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar, offered prayers to Lord Swaminarayan and launched his three-day tour of north Gujarat, which will cover six districts.

Claiming victory for reduction of GST rates on more than 200 items, the Congress vice president Saturday said his party will continue the fight for capping the tax at 18 per cent and promised the Congress will do it if the BJP government fails.

Coming down hard on the Modi government, Gandhi tweeted: “India does not need a Gabbar Singh Tax. We want a true GST. Congress, along with the people of India, fought for and ensured reduction in items in 28% bracket. Next we will fight for one rate, with a cap at 18%. If BJP doesn’t do it, Congress will.”

The state goes to polls next month on December 9 and 14. Gandhi, who is visiting north Gujarat, the BJP bastion over the years, is on a three-day visit to the state.

Gandhi continued his tirade against the Prime Minister and Amit Shah's son Jay's company.

Rahul alleged Jay's company registered 16,000 times turnover in one year. He said, "Modiji Kuch Toh Boliye (Modiji, please say something)."

"The government which can tell the people of the country at 8 p.m. that their currency will turn into scrap in just four hours, doesn't know what's in the hearts of the people. We gave Rs 35,000 crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Agency (MNREGA), but Modi gave Rs 35,000 crore to Tata Nano project,” the Congress vice president said.

The BJP criticised the move, saying Gandhi is visiting Hindu temples just ahead of elections to get votes.

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said, "Why is Rahul Gandhi visiting temples only ahead of elections. People know their intention that they want to get votes through such gimmicks. They have no inclination for devotion as during Rahul Gandhi's earlier trips, he never visited any temple."

"We wish that Congress sheds its pseudo-secularism and respects mainstream Hindutva. But their gimmicks to get votes will not work in Gujarat," Patel added.

The Congress hit back the BJP, saying people will teach the ruling party a lesson as it is opposing a visit to temple.

"Does anybody have a patent on devotion? They are opposing a visit to the temple. People of Gujarat will teach them a lesson," Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil said.

"Rahul Gandhiji has visited a Jain temple and gurudwaras apart from Hindu temples. We believe in secularism," he said.

Gandhi had started his campaign in Gujarat with a visit to the renowned Dwarkadheesh temple in September.