Union Minister slams Congress, recalls affidavit claiming Lord Ram ‘imaginary’

Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched a sharp attack on the Congress following remarks by its leader Nana Patole who allegedly compared Rahul Gandhi to Lord Ram reported news agency ANIShekhawat slammed the opposition party pointing out that it had previously submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that ldquoLord Ram was an imaginary personalityrdquoSpeaking to reporters the minister further criticised Congress claiming that the party ldquoalmost has no identity nowrdquo and questioned its credibility on cultural and historical mattersAnyone is free to compare anyone with anyone in this democratic India The countrys people see and understand these issues The Congress party almost has no identity now These are the people who filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court that Lord Ram was an imaginary personality Shekhawat said reported ANIUnion Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday also disregarded Patoles remarks saying the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP does not have time to respond to such statements and remains focused on governance and public serviceWe dont have time to think about such statements or comment on them We are engaged in serving all people and working for them We are engaged in establishing Ram Rajya under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi in the country and under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Maharashtra Goyal said reported ANIHe further said the opposition was in political decline and accused it of being disconnected from the public mandateThe opposition leaders are in a very unfortunate situation Look at the condition of Congress Shiv Sena UBT and NCPSCP in the assembly and municipal corporation elections Our job is to form a tripleengine government and work for the people he addedThe Union Minister said We dont get involved in these controversies The Prime Minister has encouraged us to serve the people and we work by putting the country first the party second and ourselves lastEarlier Congress leader Nana Patole responded to criticism of his remarks comparing Rahul Gandhi to Lord Ram saying those reacting without understanding his statement had lost their mental balanceWhat I said in my statement needs to be understood first Those who respond without understanding my statement have lost their mental balance I do not wish to talk about such people Patole told ANIA political row erupted after Patole compared Rahul Gandhi to Lord Ram drawing sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party and its alliesOn Wednesday while responding to questions over Rahul Gandhi not visiting the Ram Temple Patole said that the Congress was carrying forward the work of Lord RamOur leader Rahul Gandhi is doing the work of Lord Shri Ram You know that Lord Shri Ram worked for the oppressed the suffering the deprived Our leader Rahul Gandhi is doing the same work throughout the country his fight to give justice to the people of the country has begun he saidReferring to the Ram Janmabhoomi issue Patole added When Ram Lalla was locked our late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had ordered the gates to be opened When Rahul Gandhi visits Ayodhya he will offer prayersPatole has earlier also drawn criticism for similar remarks During Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra in October 2022 he had said that it was a coincidence that both Lord Ram and Rahul Gandhis names begin with the letter REven Lord Sri Ram also walked PadaYatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and even Shankaracharya walked the same way and so is Rahul Gandhi doing in the form of a padayatra People are joining him so its not a comparison with Lord Ram but a coincidence that both Lord Ram and Rahul Gandhis names begin with R But we dont compare Rahul with Lord Ram while BJP leaders compare their leaders with God God is God and Rahul Gandhi is a human being and he is working for humanity and everyone can see it Patole had said ANI reportedHis remarks had then drawn sharp criticism from BJP leaders including CR Kesavan who termed the statement a grievous insult to Hindu sentimentsWith ANI inputs