In Chhattisgarh, a pamphlet being distributed by a Congress party candidate has gone viral. Through this pamphlet, the candidate has promised that after winning the election, he will ban the ritualistic Ravan Vadh as well as the celebration of the Durga Puja in the Bastar region. This pamphlet is reported to have emerged from Congress district committee, Kondagaon with a picture of Rahul Gandhi on one side along with the party symbol and the local candidate on the other.
This viral pamphlet emerging in Chhattisgarh has raised serious questions over the religious posture of the Grand Old Party and particularly, Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi continues to claim his soft Hindutva approach but his party candidate from Bastar region is distributing a pamphlet which withers away all his claims. On Sabarimala Temple issue, the party president Rahul Gandhi differed from the party stand on barring the women from the temple, but later to appease the state unit of the party and Hindu voters he adopted the view of the Kerala state congress.
In past, Congress party has been known for its appeasement politics. The question now arises about the stand of the Congress party, whether it goes by the stand taken by the state unit or the one suggested by its president. The Grand Old Party must come clean now. As the 2019 election approaches, congress’ stand has kept fluctuating keeping in mind the politics of the region. After a continuous losing streak, Congress is very desperate to score a win. Congress party poses itself to be a secular party but continues with its double standard.
The viral pamphlet has once again sparked a new row in the Congress party. During the Gujarat Assembly Election Campaign, Rahul Gandhi visited more than ten temples including the Dwarkadhish temple. His supporters called him a Janeudhari Brahmin. During his current Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election campaign as well, Rahul Gandhi visited Maa Peetambara Pith Temple in Datia. In the Karnataka Assembly Election campaign, Rahul Gandhi visited Narayana Guru Temple Udupi, Dodda Ganapati Temple, Kurudamale Ganesha Temple in Kolar, Shringeri Sharadamba Temple, etc. The list continues to go long as far there is any scope for an ‘election campaign’.
On the occasion of Durga Puja in Bengal, Rahul Gandhi cancelled his programme to visit the state rather focussed on the poll-bound state of Madhya Pradesh and this very well highlights the priorities of the Congress president. In another move, the Grand Old Party has promised to ban ‘shakha’ to attract the votes in the Maoist hit region.
Congress party’s double standard can be seen clearly in the cases mentioned above. The Grand Old Party seems to be taking advantage of the sentiments of people. This is not the first time that the Congress is trying to manipulate the voters. The pamphlet emerging speaks volumes about the intentions of the Grand Old Party. It is apparent that the party is desperate to return back to power particularly, in the state of Chhattisgarh.