Gujarat elections 2017: Row over Rahul Gandhi's name in non-Hindus' list

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's name in a register meant for non-Hindus entering Somnath Temple, has led to a huge furore, with the BJP accusing him of fooling people with his temple visits, and the Congress reiterating that Gandhi is a Hindu.

An image, which apparently shows Gandhi's name along with that of senior leader Ahmed Patel, in a register meant for non-Hindus, went viral on social media on Wednesday afternoon. The entries were made in the name of one Manoj Tyagi, described as media coordinator for Rahul Gandhi. The temple, which is one of the 12 Jyotirlings in Hindu religion, allows non-Hindus to have a darshan of the Lord, but only after getting permission from the security office. In other words, people following faiths other than Hinduism have to declare their identity.

The BJP, which has criticised Rahul Gandhi for his frequent temple visits in Gujarat, was quick to latch on to the controversy. "Finally Rahul Gandhi comes clean on his religion, signs visitor register in Somanth (as per rule) meant for non-Hindus. If he isn't a Hindu by faith, let alone a practising one, then why has be been fooling people with these temple visits?" BJP's IT Cell head Amit Malviya wrote on Twitter.

However, the Congress hit back at a "dejected BJP" for raising unnecessary controversies over Rahul Gandhi's faith. "Rahul Gandhi is a Hindu since birth. He is a devotee of Lord Shiva. It was a fake entry, which has been made viral as a part of BJP's conspiracy," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told media-persons in Ahmedabad.

He said that the BJP has a problem with Rahul Gandhi visiting Somnath Temple to seek blessings, and accused the party of stooping to low-level politics.

The Somnath Temple too clarified that the entry did not say anywhere that Rahul Gandhi was a non-Hindu.