Tapasvi vs Pujari: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s remarks draw ire from BJP and priests

Tapasvi vs Pujari: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had on Monday called the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh members "Kauravas of the 21st century, who wear Khakhi half-pants, run shakhas, and work against the culture of the country.''

Haridwar: Priests from across the country have condemned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his statement that “India is a land of Tapasvis and not Pujaris”. "India is a land of Brahmins. Without Brahmins, no auspicious work can be completed. Just like you can`t enter the cinema hall without a gatekeeper, similarly, no puja is complete without brahmins. The comments made against the Brahmins are totally wrong," said Ujjawal Pandit, a priest from Haridwar. 

"The manner in which Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi has insulted the Priests and has said that India is not a country of Brahmins is highly condemnable. He has insulted the customs, culture, and devotees of the country. Such people should leave India," said Rawal Aurudh Aniyal, another priest of the Yamunotri Dham. 

Bhaskar Dimri, a priest from Badrinath Dham said "This is a country of Sanatan culture. I want to remind Rahul Gandhi that Pujaris mean Sanatan, Sanskrit, and Civilization (Sabhyata)." 

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kurukshetra, had said, "RSS people never chant ‘Har Har Mahadev’ because Lord Shiva was a ‘Tapasavi’ and these people are attacking India`s `Tapasya`. They have removed Goddess Sita from `Jai Siya Ram`. These people are working against India`s culture."

Reacting to it,  Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar said, “"Even Rahul Gandhi went and did Pooja and aarti in Kurukshetra."

Earlier on Monday Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had called the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh members Kauravas of the 21st century, who wear Khakhi half-pants, run shakhas, and work against the culture of the country. 

"Kauravas of the 21st century wear Khakhi half-pants and run `shakhas`. Besides them stand the country`s 2-3 richest people," Gandhi said.