Rahul ardent 'Shiv bhakt', believes in truth: Cong

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi is an ardent "Shiv bhakt" and believes in truth, the Congress today said after a row erupted over his visit to the Somnath temple in poll-bound Gujarat when his name appeared in the register meant for "non-Hindus".
Dismissing the reports, Congress spokesperson Deepinder Hooda said Gandhi signed in the lone register at the Somnath temple and termed it a conspiracy by the BJP to divert public attention from the real issues in Gujarat and turn this election towards polarisation.
Hooda claimed that the BJP had "failed on all fronts" of governance in Gujarat in the last 22 years and was using all desperate measures to divert the attention of the people.

"There is only one visitors' book at Somnath Temple that was signed by Rahul Gandhi and any other image being circulated is fabricated. Rahul Gandhi made an entry in the right register, where he also mentioned that 'it is a very inspiring place'.
"The entire country knows that Rahul Gandhi is a staunch Shiv 'bhakt'. Now Rahul ji being an ardent Shiv bhakt believes in the path of truth and truth is with us. So we shall prevail," he told reporters.
Hooda alleged that the BJP is in bad shape and that is why it brought this "fake" register to divert public attention. He also showed a copy of Gandhi's signatures in the temple register.

The Congress leader said the intentions of those raising questions are under question.

"On one side there is conspiracy, use of money and muscle power and on the other hand it is people's strength. It is this people's strength that they are fearing from and that is why they are resorting to such measures. It shows their mental bankruptcy," he said.
Hooda alleged that to save themselves from the questions by the public on governance, they are trying to bring about polarisation in this election.
"The way BJP leaders jumped out and started asking all sorts of questions, this is very clear. And it will not be the last attempt by them to divert the minds of the people and to take the election in a direction which can lead to certain kind of polarisation, which is very dangerous for the country," he said.

The Congress official twitter handle also said, "Clarification: There is only one visitor's book at Somnath Temple that was signed by Congress VP Rahul Gandhi. Any other image being circulated is fabricated. Desperate times call for desperate measures?."
Hooda said the BJP government in Gujarat is facing "a lot of heat" from the people because it has "completely failed in delivering on all fronts".
"Wherever Rahul ji is going, he has led a courageous campaign against the mighty BJP which is using all means - muscle and money power and government power and all other means at its disposal. That is why BJP is looking for such issues to divert the attention of people from its own governance failure," he alleged.

Asked whether he clearly saw the BJP hand in this, he said, "The people who raised that matter should answer.