Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Dec 3 (UNI) Two days after Congress President Rahul Gandhi questioned Prime Minister's credentials as a 'Hindu', Narendra Modi on Monday lashed out at the principal opposition party for its ridiculous claim on 'knowledge' about Hinduism.
"Today, you are questioning us on Hinduism. But where was the knowledge of Hinduism when in an affidavit the UPA regime ran by Sonia Gandhi told Supreme Court that Lord Ram is only an imaginative figure," Prime Minister said addressing an election rally here.
Addressing Mr Gandhi as "Hindutva ke Gyani Naamdar (the great scholar of Hindutva)", he said "It was during your mother's rule that UPA dispensation had given such an affidavit" in Supreme Court.
This was in reference to the major political development in 2007 when the Archaeological Survey of India rejected the claim of the existence of the Ram Sethu bridge in the area where the project was under construction.
The ASI in its affidavit had stated, "The petitioners while seeking relief have primarily relied upon the contents of the Valimiki Ramayana, the Ram Charit Manas by Tulsidas and mythological texts, which formed an important part of ancient Indian literature, but which cannot be said to be historical records to incontrovertibly prove the existence of the characters or the occurrence of the event, depicted therein."
In his address, the Prime Minister said it was the same Congress party and their leadership which had opposed the visit of country's first President Dr Rajendra Prasad to Somnath Temple.
"Today you are questioning our knowledge and commitment on Hinduism," he said.
He also said it is the Congress party which had pushed casteism as major factors in electioneering in India.
On Saturday, addressing a meeting in Udaipur in poll-bound Rajasthan, Mr Gandhi has said: "What is the essence of Hinduism? That knowledge is with everybody, knowledge is all around you. Every living being has knowledge. Our PM says he is a Hindu but he doesn't understand foundation of Hinduism. What kind of a Hindu is he?"
Three Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj and Smriti Irani on Sunday - separately - lashed out at the principal opposition party and its leader for such remarks.
UNI DEVN RSA 1551