A priest at the Pushkar lake in Rajasthan, who presided over the puja offered by Rahul Gandhi on Monday, claimed that the Congress president's gotra was 'Duttatreya' and he is a Kashmiri Brahmin.
A priest at the Pushkar lake in Rajasthan, who presided over the puja offered by Rahul Gandhi on Monday, claimed that the Congress president's gotra was 'Duttatreya' and he is a Kashmiri Brahmin.
"His gotra is 'Dattatreya' and he is a Kashmiri Brahmin. Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi, Maneka Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have come and offered prayers at the ghat and it is recorded with us," Dinanath Kaul, the priest, told reporters.
Kaul claimed that he possessed old records, or 'pothi', in which the record of his family tree is registered and the priest's ancestors had made Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru and other members of the family do puja at the Pushkar Sarovar.
"(Rahul) Gandhi came and offered prayers at the ghat. He also said his gotra is Dattatreya. Dattatreya are Kauls and Kauls are Kashmiri Brahmin," he said.
This led Smriti Irani also to write upon being asked about her Gotra: “Are you nuts??? I HAVE A GOTRA. BOTH PARENTS ARE HINDU. Father’s gotra - Kaushal. Mother’s gotra - Shandilya. Since father’s gotra Kaushal so is mine. Get a life,” said Irani in response to a question on Twitter.
Later she clarified: “As a public figure when asked questions (no matter how infuriating) it is my responsibility to respond however as an Indian let me proudly say -mera dharma Hindustan hai, mera karm Hindustan hai, meri aastha Hindustan hai, mera vishwas Hindustan hai.”
This was followed by Dr Harsh Vardhan, the Science and Technology Minister to give a detailed ‘explanation’ why Rahul Gandhi’s gotra wasn’t Dattatreya explaining that the gotra system is based on male lineage. Many however were horrified by the Union Minister giving a scientific explanation to a subversive caste system.
Many on Twitter pointed out that it was perhaps out of place
Earlier, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said Tuesday the 'gotra' mentioned by Rahul Gandhi while offering a puja was that of former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and not of the Congress president.
Addressing a rally in Ajmer's Nasirabad town, Raje said: "Rahul Gandhi did not mention his 'gotra', the 'gotra' mentioned was that of Nehruji. He should have mentioned the 'gotra' of his father (Rajiv Gandhi) and grandfather (Feroze Gandhi)." Raje also accused former chief minister Ashok Gehlot on insulting women. "Gehlot's remark (on her) is not only my insult, but the insult of all women," she said.
The priest also presented documents showing the names of Rahul Gandhi's ancestors who have worshipped at the Pushkar lake.
The Congress chief visited the Ajmer dargah and Pushkar and offered prayers before addressing election rallies.
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