In yet another facepalm moment for the Congress in Karnataka, its KPCC working president Dinesh Gundu Rao has landed the party in deep water by making a condemnable remark on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Advising Prime Minister Modi to sack the popular Chief Minister, Rao stated that he is not Yogi but a Dhongi (fake). Rao did not stop here. He went on saying that if Yogi Adityanath visits Karnataka he should be beaten with sandals and driven out. It seems that Dinesh Gundu Rao is doing to the Congress before the Karnataka assembly elections what Mani Shankar Aiyar did prior to the general elections. At that time, the infamous chaiwala comment made by Mani Shankar Aiyar had backfired badly for the Congress plunging it into an embarrassing defeat. This time around, Rao with his remark which would be taken in bad taste by one and all, has set the stage for a massive Congress defeat in the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections.
The BJP has been irked by this irresponsible remark and has come out all guns blazing against the motormouth leader Rao. BJP has staged statewide protests against the filthy remark and also demanded that the Congress chief Rahul Gandhi immediately apologise as well as sack Dinesh Gundu Rao.
This also exposes the soft Hindutva image that the Congress has been trying to create for itself. In the run up to the Karnataka assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi has been seen visiting Hindu shrines and Maths, including the significant Sringeri Math where he met Shankaracharya in an effort to transform the poor image that the Congress has created for itself among the Hindus. Even in the run up to the Gujarat elections, Rahul Gandhi was seen visiting temples and Maths in order to impress upon the Hindu voters. The Congress seems to have realized that Hindus have been fed up by its anti-Hindu stand and policies, therefore, it is now trying to recapture the Hindu vote. However, Dinesh Gundu Rao’s comments are the real face of the Congress.
The Congress has no respect for Hindu traditions, values and institutions. Had that been not the case, the Congress leader would have thought twice before making such filthy political comments about the Mahant of the Gorakhnath Math. Yogi Adityanath is a widely respected figure not only in the Gorakhnath Math but the entire Natha Panth. By calling Yogi Aditynath, dhongi (fake), Rao has not only disrespected the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath but has also hurt the sentiments of the entire Natha Panth. In fact, this must be taken as an indirect attack on the Gorakhnath Math which carries huge importance and significance not only for the Natha Panth but the entire Hindu community. The Gorakhnath Math is not only a religiously important shrine but also an important source of Hindu strength and pride, for the Math has stood strong in tough medieval times when it was attacked by Alauddin Khilji in the 14th century and later destroyed by Aurangzeb. However, it was due to untiring efforts on the part of several Mahants that the Math was restored to its present glory.
This is a tough time for the Congress, and these comments will in all probability invite backlash during the upcoming elections. If the Congress is at all serious about standing a chance in the upcoming elections it should take stern action against Rao and should immediately ask him to retract his statement and apologise not only to Yogi Adityanath but the entire Natha Panth and the Hindu community.
