Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hit back at Rahul Gandhi’s “knowledge of Hinduism” remark which the Congress president had made during a rally on 1 December in Jodhpur.
Addressing a gathering in the same city today, the PM, interestingly, mocked Gandhi for playing the Hindu card instead of talking about Rajasthan’s needs.
“Recently he (Rahul Gandhi) was saying that Modi has no knowledge of Hinduism. Will Rajasthan vote on the basis of whether Modi knows anything about Hinduism? Does Rajasthan need votes on water, electricity, roads or whether Modi has knowledge of Hinduism?” said the PM in this historic city of the poll-bound state.
Taking a dig at the 48-year-old, Modi said that even the saints and seers never claimed that they knew everything about Hinduism or Hindutva.
“Ye itna vishal hai ki iss poore gyaan ko sametna insaan ke bas ki baat nahi hai. Iss gyaan ka bhandaar mere paas hai main aisa daawa kabhi nahi kar sakta,naamdar kar sakte hain (Hinduism is so vast that it is impossible for any human to master it. I cannot ever claim to have full knowledge of this wisdom, only naamdars can),” he was quoted as saying by ANI.
Gandhi, who has been on a temple spree for the last many months and recently revealed his gotra, had said that PM Modi has no idea of Hinduism.
“What is the essence of Hinduism? What does the Gita say? That knowledge is with everybody, knowledge is all around you. Every living being has knowledge. Our PM says he is a Hindu but he doesn’t understand foundation of Hinduism. What kind of a Hindu is he?” he had said during the rally in Jodhpur.
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On a visit to Pushkar on 26 November, Rahul Gandhi told priests of the Brahma temple that he is a “Kaul Brahmin” of the “Dattatreya gotra”.
His revelation came after BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra questioned Gandhi over his claim of wearing a ‘janeu’ (sacred thread worn by Brahmins) and his gotra.
Currently ruled by the BJP, Rajasthan goes to elections on 7 December in a single-phase polling for the 200-member Assembly. Counting of votes will take place on 11 December.