BJP has misled people in the name of religion: Pilot

Reacting to the launch of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's political yatra from Rajsamand's Charbhujnath temple, the Congress today said the BJP talks about temples only to seek political advantage.

"The BJP has been doing politics while keeping temples in the centre. The party has always worked to force its divisive thought and misled people in the name of religion, Rajasthan Congress president Sachin Pilot said here.

He alleged that the BJP has emotionally exploited people. "More than 300 temples were demolished in the state capital in the name of construction for the metro corridor, Pilot said.

Reacting to the Congress leader's remarks, BJP national vice president Avinash Rai Khanna said the party has always begun its yatra after seeking blessings at local temples.

"Like the Congress, we do not do the politics of showing off. (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi had gone to temples in Gujarat and Karnataka during assembly elections and pretended to worship. The BJP does not believe in such kind of politics, he said.

Pilot also condemned BJP president Amit Shah's comment on Gandhi.

In his address at the launch of the yatra, Shah said the public wants to know from "Rahul Baba" the account of works done by "four generations" during Congress rule in the country.

Jaipur district Congress president Pratap Singh Khachariya and other leaders and workers burnt an effigy of the BJP government at the Collectorate circle.

He said that the government is funding the political yatra, which is misuse of the taxpayer's money.

"The BJP government is misusing taxpayers' money which is a betrayal, Khachariya said.

Of the total 58 days of schedule, 40 days will be of yatra and 18 days will be off.

Raje will cover 165 out of total 200 assembly constituencies during the yatra which will culminate in Ajmer's Pushkar town on September 30.