Prasad hits out at 'Shiv bhakt' Gandhi for Tharoor's remarks

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Monday Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was trying to build his image as a "Shiv bhakt" with his temple visits, but warned him that the BJP would not tolerate this "drama" because a "small-time" leader of his party is repeatedly insulting Hindu gods.

Prasad was referring to Gandhi's visit to the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain on Monday as part of his two-day visit to poll-bound Madhya Pradesh and Kerala MP Shashi Tharoor's reported remarks last week against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shivlinga.

Tharoor reportedly claimed that an unnamed RSS source had told a journalist that Modi was like a scorpion sitting on a Shivlinga which cannot be removed by hand or hit with a slipper.

"Congress president Rahul Gandhi today visited a temple in Ujjain. I wish him on his new Shiv bhakti. With this temple run, he is trying to build his identity as a Shiv Bhakt but a leader of his party Shashi Tharoor has made objectionable statements against Shivlinga," Prasad said at a press conference.

"On one hand Rahul Gandhi visits Mahakal Temple in Ujjain and pays obeisance there, on the other one of his 'chhutbhaiya' leader insults gods and deities," he claimed.

"Rahul ji, this drama (of piety) will not be tolerated," Prasad added.

"He (Tharoor) has not done such a thing for the first time. Earlier also, he had said that India is turning into a Hindu Taliban," Prasad remarked.

The Union minister also attacked the Congress chief on the Rafale deal, claiming Gandhi was playing with national security and making statements similar to the ones made in Pakistan.

He said Pakistan was raising questions on the Rafale deal as it did not want India to have such sophisticated aircraft.

"For the first time, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had made efforts to increase the strength of the Air Force. After the UPA came to power, it could not even decide on the procurement of the jets."
Speaking about "urban Maoists", Prasad said, "They want to run the country but if they fought an election, their deposits would be forfeited."