Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad today slammed Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi over his visits to temples in Gujarat where campaigning for the second and final phase of polling culminates today.
At a news briefing here, Prasad accused the Congress leader of playing soft-Hindutva card to appease the Hindu population of the state. He asked to come clean on the issue of Ayodhya.
“If there is so much love for Temples, then in the UP elections, he traveled a lot. Did he visit a Ram Temple there?” Prasad said.
“Rahul Gandhi must answer, should a Ram Temple be built in Ayodhya or not? What is the Congress' position?,” he asked.
Prasad also lambasted Rahul for making false promise of reservation to Patidars in government jobs and educational institutions. He reminded the grand old party that the Supreme Court has imposed a cap of 50 per cent on reservation.
"Rahul Gandhi had no reply when asked questions about quota today," he said.
To a question related to Rahul Gandhi's elevation to the Congress' post, he replied: "Who the Congress makes its President is their own business. But it is also true that Rahul Gandhi is Congress President not because of his ability, but because of his family."
When asked about row over remarks on Pakistan role in Gujarat polls, he said, "There's a national line on dealing with Pakistan: Till Pakistan doesn't stop terror, there can be no talks. The BJP wants to know whether Dr Manmohan Singh went to meet Pak representatives with due intimation to MEA and of Shri Rahul Gandhi."
The BJP leader further exuded confidence that the people of state will vote in favour of the saffron party once again.
The first phase of elections in 89 constituencies on Saturday saw a 66.75 per cent turnout. The maximum voting (79.15 per cent) was seen in the tribal district of Narmada, followed by Tapi with 78.56 per cent, and the minimum (59.39 per cent) recorded in Devbhoomi Dwarka district.
The election in the remaining 93 constituencies in central and northern regions of the state will be held in the second phase on December 14. Counting of votes will take place on December 18.
